Transparency needed on implementation of residency scheme for asylum seekers
On the foot of this morning’s radio programme on the asylum system and direct provision on RTÉ’s Today on Sean O’Rourke show, Nasc calls for transparency from the Government on the implementation of the 5+ year residency scheme and other key recommendations from the Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process and Direct Provision.
RTÉ’s Brian O’Connell spoke with Nasc CEO Fiona Finn and with Minister Aodhán Ó Riordáin about actions the Government has taken to date in relation to people who have been in the asylum system for long periods of time.
Ms Finn states:
“Nasc welcomes that the Minister has stated that the Government has begun to act on the recommendations in the Working Group Report, especially in recognition – as Minister Ó Riordáin noted this morning on air – that the current protection system is broken.”
“The Minister has acknowledged that people who have been in the system for long periods are starting to get residency, including those on deportation orders. However, the scheme recommended in the Working Group Report would potentially impact up to 3,500 people in the protection process – 1,500 of whom have lived in direct provision for five or more years. The figures announced on the radio this morning come nowhere close to this.”
“Minister Ó Riordáin stated in his interview with Sean O’Rourke this morning, that effectively the Government are implementing the scheme which was recommended by the Working Group. However, there has been no public announcement of a scheme and there is a considerable amount of confusion amongst asylum seekers about what is happening.”
“If it is in fact the case that they are implementing – in full – the scheme recommended by the Working Group, then, given the numbers of people who will potentially be impacted, the Government must immediately make a proper, public acknowledgement that the scheme is in place, and ensure that all of the key stakeholders impacted by this, including asylum seekers, their solicitors and barristers, and other advocates who work on asylum seekers’ behalf, are aware of what is happening and can act accordingly. This will ensure that the fundamental human rights of asylum seekers are not undermined.”
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