10 April 2008, Cork Independent
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Nasc in the Media
2008
Tues. 8 April 2008, The Irish Examiner:
Asylum Centres 'Costly and Wasteful'
The Government's accommodation for asylum seekers is 'costly and wasteful' and 'tantamount to an open prison', a report has revealed. Almost 6,000 people are living in the state's direct provision centres around the country, at a cost of about €66 million per year, while awaiting a decision on their asylum applications. Many are experiencing poverty and isolation while depending on the state for all of their material needs.
That is according to research carried out by Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre in Cork, which yesterday launched a campaign for the reform of the asylum legal process.
One of the cornerstones of the campaign is to get the Government to allow asylum seekers to work, instead of depending on weekly social welfare allowances of €19.10 per adult and €9.50 per child.
The amounts have not been changed since 2000. In Britain, vouchers worth about €45 per week are given to asylum seekers under their direct provision system, to be spent at designated shops. Other European countries pay larger amounts but, unlike Ireland, do not provide food in their accommodation centre.
Nasc says that Ireland and Denmark remain the only countries yet to sign up to the EU's 2003 convention on the treatment of asylum seekers, which includes the right to work.
The Cuan Cinnte-Safe Harbour-campaign also calls on the Government to set up an independent human rights monitoring body that will be present at the key points of entry to the state, as well as a fair and transparent system for the timely processing of applications and appeals.
Speaking at yesterday's launch in Cork, Nasc Director Gertrude Cotter described asylum seekers as ' among the most marginalised groups of people in Ireland'.
The independent research which gave rise to the Cuan Cinnte Campaign, found people awaiting a decision on their asylum application ar kept in Dublin reception centres for 10 to 14 days before being 'dispersed' to direct provision centres throughout the country.
Last year there were 3,104 families living in direct provision accommodation, 2,017 single men and 745 single women- a total of 5,866 people. respondents to a survey carried out of asylum seekers described the system as being 'tantamount to an open prison', according to Nasc, with many expressing feelings of 'helplessness, hopelessness, isolation, poverty, social exclusion, and the complete dependence on the state'.
Overcrowding and lack of privacy were also identified as issues for centre residents, along with a lack of variety and poor quality of food.
Consultant clinical psychologist Dr Tony Humphreys told delegates that the direct provision scheme excludes the mainstream life and preludes a natural integration into everyday Irish life.
'Sustained periods of helplessness and hopeless, addressed in the research, can often lead to institutionalisation and possible psychological damage in the future', said Dr Humphreys.
Tues. 8 April 2008, The Irish Times:
Adviser on racism says diversity in schools neglected: Integration Minister 'must be' in Cabinet
The Chairwoman of the steering group of the Government's National Action Plan against Racism has criticised the Depatment of Education for faltering in its attempts to address diversity in schools.
Speaking yesterday on the first day of the Intercultural and Anti-Racism Week, which this year has an education theme, Lucy Gaffney acknowledged the department's recent efforts, but expressed concern that it had yet to develop an intercultural education strategy.
'The action plan was launched in 2005. The department that is faltering the most is the Department of Education', she said. 'It's never too late...but they have not yet developed a national intercultural education strategy, a blueprint for accommodating diversity at all levels within the Irish Education system'.
The four-year action plan ends in December. While the department had more English language teachers, the total was 'not nearly enough', while the production of intercultural guidelines had not been accompanied by in-service training for teachers.
'If we act (on these issues) that will certainly help minimise any potential dangers that we have among the youth if there is an economic downturn', Ms Gaffney said. 'Let's put a bit of effort and time into a proper education system that fully reflects the new society that we live in'.
Ms Gaffney called on Brian Cowen to give the Minister of State for Integration a seat in Cabinet if, as expected, he becomes Taoiseach next month.
'This is one of the single biggest issues that is going to face Irish society, and i strongly believe that the role should be a cabinet position', she said.
Minister for Integration Conor Lenihan said last weekend that over 17,000 students from 160 different countries are enrolled in the Republic's secondary schools.
Outlining measures taken by the Department of Education on diversity, he said 1,900 language support teachers had been appointed and intercultural guidelines had been produced. Work was also under way on the development of language assessment kits for post-primary schools later in the year.
A major education conference would take place in June, Mr Lenihan said, looking into the implications of social diversity.
Meanwhile, a psychologist told the launch of a campaign for the reform of the asylum process by Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre in Cork, that the State's 'direct provision' system for asylum seekers was causing demoralisation and preventing asylum seekers from integrating.
Consultant clinical psychologist Dr Tony Humphreys said the system repeated the shortcomings of mental asylums-institutionalisation, depersonalisation, increased dependence and helplessness.
'The fact that asylum seekers are five times more likely to be diagnosed with psychiatric illness is evidence of the nature of the asylums provided', he said, adding that individuals needed to be treated with dignity whether they stay or eventually leave Ireland.
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Sat. 15 March 2008, The Irish Times: Letter to the editor by Gertrude Cotter:
Shortcomings in Immigration Bill
I welcome Carol Coulter’s article on the UNHCR’s recommendations regarding amendments to the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill currently before the Oreachtas (The Irish Times. March 13th). The UNHCR’s report is an excellent analysis of the legislation. It includes 76 groups of recommendations for change to the current Bill.
Similar points were made last year by the Irish Human Rights Commission in response to the Bill produced by the former minister for justice. This has been ignored to date by the officials and the Minister at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
It is important that bodies such as the UNHCR and the IHRC are listened to by the Government. For instance the powers and functions of the IHRC are set out in the Human Rights Commission Acts 2000 and 2001. The Human Rights Commission Act, 2000 confers a wide-ranging jurisdiction on the Commission to promote and protect human rights as defined both in international agreements to which Ireland is party and in the Irish Constitution. Its functions include making recommendations to government on measures to strengthen, protect and uphold human rights in the State and to keep under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law an practice relating to the protection of human rights.
It is therefore difficult to understand how the Department of Justice can ignore the report of a body established b an Act of parliament for the very purpose of making such recommendations.
As an NGO dealing every day with the consequences of poor government legislation and policies, we ask the Oireachtas committee to consider in detail the recommendations of the reports of the IHRC and the UNHCR, which we fully support.
Thu. 21 February 2008, The Irish Times: Letter to the editor by Gertrude Cotter:
Attitudes to immigrants
As director of an NGO working with immigrants I would like to express my dismay at recent comments by two Fianna Fáil politicians. Senator Donie Cassidy suggested that foreign drivers in Ireland be limited to a maximum speed of 80 km/h. This is not only completely impractical, but betrays an attitude that depicts immigrants as somehow less capable of controlling a motor vehicle than are Irish road users. Senator Cassidy proceeded to advance the idea that Ireland should switch to driving on the right-hand side of the road.
In this case, would the senator then advocate curtailing Irish drivers’ speeds while allowing immigrants to travel at the full speed limit?
I was further exercised by comments from the Louth County Council chairman, Cllr Jimmy Mulroy, who is advocating a reduced minimum wage for low-skilled foreign workers, arguing that the cost of living in their home countries is not as high as in Ireland. Not only would this contravene any number of employment and equality laws, but his sentiments appear to reflect a perception of migrants as mere “economic units”, as opposed to human beings.
In the context of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill which is currently before the Dáil, the above commets are unfortunate and indicate a complete lack of understanding of immigrant issues among some people in positions of power in this country.
Recent Press Releases on The Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill
Wed. 29 January 2008, Justice.ie:
Mr Brian Lenihan TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, today announced the publication of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008. The Bill replaces all of the present legislation on immigration, some of which dates back to 1935, and puts in place an integrated statutory framework for the development and implementation of Government immigration policies into the future. more..
Wed. 29 January 2008, GreenParty.ie:
Cuffe welcomes publication of immigration bill, Justice Spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD welcomed the Government's publication today of the immigration, residence and protection bill, which provides for an overhaul of existing immigration and asylum law, some of which dates back to the 1930s.
more..
Wed. 29 January 2008, Flac.ie:
FLAC reaction to Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill : In its first reaction to the Immigration Residence & Protection Bill which was published today, FLAC, the non-governmental organisation campaigning for equal access to justice, has raised concerns about the protection of the rights of immigrants to access fair and transparent procedures. more..
Wed. 29 January 2008, Mrci.ie:
New Immigration Bill has Serious Flaws: Changes Needed to Ensure Fairness and Due Process. “The Immigration Residence and Protection Bill introduced today by Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan has serious flaws,” said the Director of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, Siobhán O’Donoghue. “In Ireland we value fairness, transparency and due process. The Immigration Bill in its current form seriously lacks these basic principles and major changes in the Bill are needed to get this right now in order to meet everyone’s interests.”
more..
Tue. January 28, 2008.
Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill requires significant amendment to achieve a fair system: ICI: Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) chief executive Denise Charlton has warned that the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, published today by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, will require significant amendment if it is to achieve the Government’s stated aim of establishing fair and transparent immigration system.
2007
Examiner Media Friday, November 02, 2007
Integration plan for migrants Work started yesterday on an integration plan for Cork’s estimated 59,000 migrants that aims to improve their access to jobs and education. It is hoped the plan, which was unveiled during the city’s first immigration symposium, will provide a blueprint for the rest of the country. more..
November 2007, Irish Examiner features Nasc's Family Reunification Conference: Conference told of need to reunite migrant families.
Migrant workers and refugees are suffering the heartache of being denied the right to live with their children, partners or spouses due to the major inadequacies in Irish immigration policy and administration, a conference was told yesterday
Thu. 15 February 2007, Irish Examiner features launch of Nasc's Family Reunification Campaign: Urgent calls to change anti-family immigration policy. Heartless government policy has prevented an African mother living in Ireland from seeing her eldest daughter for four years.
Sat. 24 February 2007, Evening Echo features Nasc's Family Reunification Campaign: Heartache of separation that pains the new Irish . A campaign to reunite families of migrant people has shed light on the hardship endured by many living in this country .
Thu. 21 June 2007, Evening Echo features event organised by Cork Networking Committee - photos of Nasc staff, board and members: Dance troup serves up lunch treat. The Spiegeltent was the venue for a lunchtime dance show staged as part of the Cork Midsummer Festival earlier this week..
2006
Thu. 25 May 2006, Irish Examiner features Nasc's funding cuts: Immigrant centre hit by € 40,000 funding cut. A row has erupted after a government appointed committee cut € 40,000 of European funding from one of the largest immigrant support groups outside Dublin .
Tue. 20 December 2006, Irish Examiner quotes Nasc's Director: Comedian's Late Late Show 'gypsy' remarks condemned. An immigrant support group condemned a top English comedian yesterday for his 'derogatory' references to gypsies during the Late Late Show last Friday.
2005
Tue. 8 November 2005, Irish Examiner features opening of Nasc's new offices at Mary St.: Immigrant support centre to open new premises. Immigrant support centre NASC will officially open its new premises tonight.
Tue. 6 September 2005, Evening Echo features closure of North Quay Place and comment's by Nasc's Director on the way it was closed without consultation and on unpopular dispersal of residents: My whole life. The closure of a Cork hostel for asylum seekers will have a devastating effect on its residents.
