Oisín
01-06-2009, 07:14 PM
Jump in the number of asylum seekers transferred out of State
There was a major increase in the number of asylum seekers transferred from here to another EU country last year.
Official end-of-year statistics last night showed there were 271 transfer orders to other European states under the Dublin II regulation -- a rise of over 20pc on 2007.
Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that four extra High Court judges have been assigned to hear asylum disputes in a bid to clear a backlog of 540 cases.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said he was particularly pleased with the continued increase in the level of success in implementing the transfer orders.
"These transfers reduce the number of asylum applications, which have to be processed in the State and their associated cost," he added.
The minister said the Government attached special importance to the use of the Dublin II arrangements and co-operation with other EU states.
He promised that the government would continue to use this effective measure this year.
The statistics confirmed a 3pc fall in the overall number of asylum applications in the past year, down from 3,985 in 2007 to 3,866.
The top five source countries were Nigeria (26.1pc), Pakistan (6.1pc), Iraq (5.3pc), Georgia (4.7pc) and China (4.7pc).
[Continue reading] (http://www.independent.ie/national-news/jump-in-the-number-of-asylum-seekers-transferred-out-of-state-1592928.html)
There was a major increase in the number of asylum seekers transferred from here to another EU country last year.
Official end-of-year statistics last night showed there were 271 transfer orders to other European states under the Dublin II regulation -- a rise of over 20pc on 2007.
Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that four extra High Court judges have been assigned to hear asylum disputes in a bid to clear a backlog of 540 cases.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said he was particularly pleased with the continued increase in the level of success in implementing the transfer orders.
"These transfers reduce the number of asylum applications, which have to be processed in the State and their associated cost," he added.
The minister said the Government attached special importance to the use of the Dublin II arrangements and co-operation with other EU states.
He promised that the government would continue to use this effective measure this year.
The statistics confirmed a 3pc fall in the overall number of asylum applications in the past year, down from 3,985 in 2007 to 3,866.
The top five source countries were Nigeria (26.1pc), Pakistan (6.1pc), Iraq (5.3pc), Georgia (4.7pc) and China (4.7pc).
[Continue reading] (http://www.independent.ie/national-news/jump-in-the-number-of-asylum-seekers-transferred-out-of-state-1592928.html)