Refugee tribunal maintains secrecy after internal row

THE Refugee Appeals Tribunal is to maintain its policy of secrecy around the way it handles cases despite internal disagreement over the way it has operated.

Tribunal chairman John Ryan yesterday faced calls for his resignation and for the disbandment of the entire body, after it emerged some members were on the verge of taking him to court to challenge aspects of his management. The tribunal works through a board of 32 lawyers who are paid on a per-case basis to adjudicate on appeals by asylum seekers whose applications to stay in Ireland are refused.

A row had been simmering for the past two and a half years over claims members were taking widely different approaches to cases.