The Independent Appeals Authority, set up to hear appeals against the decisions of the Department of Justice on refugee applications, has four members, barristers Mr Peter Finlay, Ms Una McGurk, Mr Eamonn Cahill and solicitor Mr Eamonn Eames. They sit on a part-time basis, hearing five or six cases a day on the days they sit.
In 1997, four asylum-seekers were granted refugee status at the appeal stage. Last year, 40 succeeded at appeal stage. In the first five months of this year, 135 appeals were successful.
Under amendments to the Immigration Bill 1999, published yesterday, the authority will become the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, and will be constituted on a statutory basis. Its members will be barristers or solicitors with at least 10 years' experience.