ISB SI

I, Michael McDowell TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 12(4)(

a

) (inserted by

section 7

(

g

) of the

Immigration Act 2003

(No. 26 of 2003)) of the

Refugee Act 1996

(No. 17 of 1996), and as adapted by the Justice (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (

SI No. 298 of 1997

), after consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and having had regard to the matters referred to in paragraph (

b

) of the said section 12(4), hereby order as follows

1.

—(1) This Order may be cited as the Refugee Act 1996 (Safe Countries of Origin) Order 2003.

(2) This Order shall come into operation on 15 September 2003.

2.

—Each of the countries specified in the Schedule to this Order is designated as a safe country of origin within the meaning of section 12(4)(

a

) (inserted by

section 7

(

g

) of the

Immigration Act 2003

(No. 26 of 2003)) of the

Refugee Act 1996

(No. 17 of 1996).

Schedule

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Estonia

Hungary

Latvia

Lithuania

Malta

Poland

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia.

GIVEN under my Official Seal

This 15th day of September 2003

Michael McDowell TD,

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation)

This Order lists the countries designated as safe for the purpose of prioritising applications for refugee status made by nationals of those countries under the

Refugee Act 1996

.