Key events so far
2000:The Refugee Appeals Tribunal comes into existence under the Immigration Act 1999, replacing the Refugee Appeals Authority.
Oct 2000:MJ Farrell, a taxation expert from McCann Fitzgerald solicitors, is appointed chairman.
July 2001:40 per cent of appeals being allowed by the tribunal, leading to the Refugee Council expressing concern.
June 2002:25 per cent of first instance decisions set aside. 2002 saw the highest number of applicants, with 11,530 that year.
2003:M J Farrell resigned three years into his five-year term, and was replaced by John Ryan BL as acting chairman.
Nov 2004:Ed Honohan criticised the number of judicial reviews of tribunal decisions.
July 2005:High Court ruled against RAT on its refusal to publish its decisions or allow access to them by lawyers for applicants. RAT appeals decision to the Supreme Court.
July 2005:The post of chairman of the tribunal is advertised.
October 2005:John Ryan appointed by the Minister as chairman.
Feb 2006:Resignations of Sunniva McDonagh and Doreen Shivnan.
March 2006: Nyembocase opens in High Court, alleging bias against one member, Jim Nicholson.
April 2006:Statistics from the tribunal showed Jim Nicholson to be the highest earner of any tribunal member, having been paid €780,000 since it was set up.
July 2006:Supreme Court upholds High Court ruling on the publication of decisions.
Sept 2006:Heads of new Immigration Bill published, replacing the RAT with a Protection Review Tribunal.
June 2007:The Supreme Court rules that statistics on Mr Nicholson's decisions could be examined.
Dec 2007:The tribunal settled the case with the three asylum seekers.
Jan 2008:New Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill is published, providing for the RAT to become chairman of the new Protection Review Tribunal.