Asylum in Ireland

Controversy surrounding how we treat our asylum seekers in Ireland through the system of direct provision was once again thrust into the spotlight by way of a recent High Court decision. The decision in C.A. and T.A (a minor) v Minister for Justice and Equality, Minister for Social Protection, the Attorney... Read more

Today Justice Mac Eochaidh ruled in the High Court Case C.A and T.A. (a minor) v Minister for Justice and Equality, Minister for Social Protection, the Attorney General and Ireland. Nasc CEO Fiona Finn was in attendance for the judgment. Justice Mac Eochaidh found that direct provision was not in breach... Read more

Nasc are supporting a Bill being introduced to the Seanad this afternoon by Senator David Norris providing a pathway to residency for asylum seekers who have been awaiting a decision on their protection application for 4 years or more. Senator Norris will be introducing the Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation... Read more

Nasc welcomes the invitation made to our CEO Fiona Finn to sit on the Working Group, which will make recommendations to the government to improve the system of direct provision and Ireland’s protection system. Nasc CEO Fiona Finn comments: “We are happy to be asked to participate in what we consider... Read more

The Office for the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) have released new amendments to the Subsidiary Protection guidelines as a result of the judgment in H. N. v. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Ireland and the Attorney General, the European Union (Subsidiary Protection)... Read more

In response to a recent opinion piece from Ian O’Doherty in the Independent – “Its time we closed the door on our failed asylum policy” (published 17/9/14) – our Campaigns and Communications Officer Jennifer DeWan has written an article to challenge the misinformation that... Read more

Minister Frances Fitzgerald was quoted in the Irish Times today (‘Government to review conditions for asylum seekers’, 12 August 2014) reiterating the Government’s recent commitment to reviewing the direct provision system which houses asylum seekers while they wait for their applications to be... Read more

588. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of leave to remain applications received from US nationals in each of the past five years; the number which were granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances... Read more

204. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason that contractors have been engaged to work in ORAC dealing with refugee determination matters rather than using civil servants; if she will detail the way these contractors were selected and appointed; if she will provide... Read more

147. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a breakdown of the number of persons who have been held in direct provision centres for more than five years, categorised by centre and the number of years. Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald):... Read more

420. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of asylum applicants awaiting a decision at first instance and on appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): As at 31 May 2014, the number... Read more

410. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the plans in place to improve access to higher education and training for young persons in direct provision centres. Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my... Read more

409. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total cost of the direct provision service nationally; and the annual cost of contracts with private providers in accommodating residents, broken down per adult and child. Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald):... Read more

406. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a breakdown of the number of persons since 2000 who have been and are currently in direct provision centres; the number of applications for asylum processed each year to date; and if she will provide a breakdown,... Read more

405. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the target processing times for applications for asylum; the number of staff tasked with processing applications and the performance against those target processing times. 407. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice... Read more

Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre are hosting a conference in conjunction with University College Dublin’s Sutherland School of Law to mark World Refugee Day.  The conference, titled ‘Beyond the Single Procedure – Reforming Ireland’s Protection System’ will be held from 10 AM – 3PM... Read more

432. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to implement an amnesty for asylum seekers who have been here for more than five years, or any other measures to reduce waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy... Read more

Nasc and  UCD’s Sutherland School of Law invite you to a one day conference to mark World Refugee Day on the 20th June 2014 in UCD’s William Fry Theatre from 10 Am – 3Pm.  Beyond the Single Procedure: Reforming Ireland’s Protection System This conference is an opportunity to bring together... Read more

To mark World Refugee Day, Nasc in conjunction with UCD’s Sutherland School of Law are hosting a groundbreaking conference looking at the protection system in Ireland. The conference will take place on 20 June in UCD’s William Fry Theatre from 10 AM – 3 PM. The conference is an opportunity to... Read more

244. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current or expected position regarding entitlement to stamp 4 – long-term residency stamps-eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the Zambrano judgment or otherwise;... Read more