Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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412. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if any migrants assisted by the crew of the LE Eithne in the Mediterranean Sea have claimed asylum under Irish law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23784/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Following a Government decision, the LÉ Eithne was deployed to the Mediterranean on 16 May 2015 to engage in humanitarian search and rescue operations at sea as part of Ireland's overall contribution to the migrant crisis situation in the region.

It has been agreed with the Italian Government that the LÉ Eithne will conduct search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean in accordance with relevant international law on rescue at sea. Persons in distress at sea who are rescued shall be disembarked by the rescuing vessel at the nearest safe port in Italy. In accordance with relevant international and European Law any claims for international protection by persons who are rescued is the responsibility of the state of disembarkation.

The Deputy might wish to note that section 8 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) provides that any person who arrives at the frontiers of the State or any person who at any time is in the State seeking the status of a refugee may apply to the Minister for Justice and Equality for a declaration of refugee status. There is therefore no legal basis for accepting extra-territorial applications.

With regard to the granting of refugee status, the Deputy might also note that the processing of asylum applications in Ireland takes place within a well defined national and international legal framework. All applications for refugee status are examined in accordance with the statutory requirements set out in the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended). Accordingly, where a person makes an application for refugee status in Ireland their application is examined at first instance by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) and, on appeal by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.

The Deputy will be aware that as a further part of its response to the migration crisis situation in the Mediterranean, the Government has agreed in principle to resettle an additional 300 vulnerable people. This brings our total commitment on resettlement to the end of 2016 to five hundred and twenty (520) people, or nearly twice the quota proposed by the Commission for Ireland.