Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has studied the original papers in the application for asylum/refugee status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5042/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The applicant applied for asylum on 17 January 2008 and had his claim examined by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner. It was concluded that he did not meet the criteria for recognition as a refugee. The Commissioner's recommendation was communicated to him by letter dated 18 June 2008, in which he was also advised of his entitlement to appeal to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.

The Refugee Appeals Tribunal, having fully considered the applicant's appeal, affirmed the Commissioner's recommendation. The outcome of the appeal was made known to him by letter dated 21 October 2009. This recommendation was fully considered by officials of the Ministerial Decisions Unit of my Department during which all the papers on file were examined. On 10 November 2009 the applicant was informed that his asylum application was refused and that it was now proposed to make a Deportation Order in respect of him. On 25 November 2009, the applicant initiated Judicial Review proceedings challenging the decision of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The Deputy will appreciate that, as the case is now sub judice, I am unable to comment any further on the matter.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.