Related Bodies

Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB)
The Garda National Immigration Bureau is based at 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2 in the same building as the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. GNIB is responsible for all immigration related to Garda operations in the State. GNIB also carries out deportations, border control and investigations related to illegal immigration and trafficking in Human Beings and has specialist units dealing in each area. An Garda Síochána has personnel specifically dealing with immigration in every Garda district and at all approved ports and airports. There is also a border control unit attached to Dundalk Garda Station. These personnel detect and deter illegal immigration.

International Organisation for Migration
IOM acts with its partners in the international community to assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration management, advance understanding of migration issues, encourage social and economic development through migration and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.

Legal Aid Board
The Refugee Legal Service (RLS) is operated by the Legal Aid Board. It was established in February, 1999 to provide a comprehensive legal aid service, to include legal advice and legal aid for asylum seekers at all stages of the asylum process, including representation at appeals hearing. It provides services both within Dublin and on a decentralised basis outside Dublin.

Office of the Minister for Integration
The Office of the Minister for Integration (OMI) was set up in June 2007 following the appointment by the Government of a Minister of State with responsibility for the development of integration policy.

Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC)
The Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) is the first instance decision making body in the Irish asylum system. The office was established under the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended). Under the Act, the Commissioner is required to investigate each asylum application lodged within the state and to make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Commissioner is also responsible for investigating applications by refugees to allow family members to enter and reside in the State and for providing a report to the Minister on such applications
The Commissioner is independent in the exercise of his or her functions.

Reception & Integration Agency (RIA)
The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) was established on 2 April, 2001. The (RIA) replaced and combined the functions performed previously by the Directorate for Asylum Support Services (DASS was established by the Government in November, 1999 under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to co-ordinate the scheme of dispersal and direct provision for asylum seekers) and the former Refugee Agency which operated on an administrative basis under the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Refugee Applications Tribunal (RAT)
The Refugee Appeals Tribunal ("the Tribunal") was established on 4 October, 2000, in accordance with Sections 14 and 15 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended by section 11(1) of the Immigration Act, 1999 and section 9 of the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act, 2000), to consider and decide appeals against Recommendations of the Refugee Applications Commissioner that applicants should not be declared to be refugees. The Refugee Act, 1996 was implemented on 20 November, 2000 and the work of the Tribunal commenced on that date.

UNHCR 
When UNHCR opened its doors for business on January 1, 1951 it comprised a staff of 34 people based mainly in Geneva with a budget of around $300,000. In more than five decades, the refugee agency has grown into a global operation. Today, a staff of around 6,689 people in 116 countries continues to help 20.8 million persons. The administration of this worldwide operation has become highly complex, ranging from the recruitment of new staff, their protection and security in highly dangerous situations to the procurement of everything from medical supplies, bulk food shipments to fleets of aircraft to help refugees return home.