Section 19 of the Refugee Act, 1996, provides the legislative basis for ensuring that the identity of an applicant for asylum is kept confidential by all involved in the application process. This is an essential safeguard for the protection not only of applicants themselves but also of their relatives left behind in the country where persecution may have arisen. In that regard, section 19(1) of the Act places an onus on a number of parties including the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Refugee Applications Commissioner, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and their respective officers to take all practicable steps to keep confidential the identity of applicants for refugee status. Section 19(2) provides that subject to sections 9(15) and 26, no matter likely to lead members of the public to identify a person as an applicant for refugee status under Act shall be published or broadcast without the consent of the person and the consent of the Minister, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.