About 23 asylum-seekers, including a Romanian man, who were given 14 days in letters from the Department of Justice to state their case or be deported yesterday, are still in the State after seeking legal representation. The Romanian man, who on Tuesday attended the Democratic Left press briefing to announce its Private Members' Bill proposing an amnesty for the 4,000 asylum-seekers, received advice from the Irish Refugee Council. The man, who has lived here for 2 1/2 years, had feared he would be deported yesterday.
A council spokeswoman said there had been misunderstanding among the asylum-seekers because the letters, dated January 15th, were not clear. Council members intended to hold information sessions within the next week. The asylum-seekers could make representation within 14 days of getting such a letter and then the Minister for Justice had to reply. "If they did not make representation then they would be deported from today," she said.