Refugee groups object to social welfare measure

REFUGEE groups last night urged the Government not to follow Britain in introducing measures barring most asylum seekers from receiving social welfare.

Policies introduced in Britain this week provide for direct provision welfare payments to be withheld from asylum seekers who do not claim asylum immediately at their point of entry to the country.

The Government here is already planning to introduce regulations which will require people to apply for asylum as soon as they enter the State and the Department of Justice confirmed yesterday it may follow the British example.

Amnesty International and the Irish Refugee Council (IRC) criticised the decision saying it would force asylum seekers to work illegally and discriminate against those most in need of protection.

“It’s an outrageous suggestion that defies belief and any rational logic,” said IRC refugee policy officer James Stapelton. Mr Stapelton said such a system could result in thousands of immigrants being forced to work illegally and asked how asylum seekers were supposed to know they were required to apply for asylum as soon as they step on Irish soil.

“Many of them fear they won’t get into the country if they say something at the border and who is going to tell them now that if they don’t apply at their point of entry they will lose everything. What are they going to do? Will we have 8,000 people living on the streets of Dublin? They will have no choice but to work illegally just to survive.”

Amnesty’s refugee officer Ursla Fraser said a system used in the US where people could claim asylum any time up to a year after entering the country would be more appropriate. “A more well thought out asylum system such as that in the US would represent a more humane and fair asylum policy. This seems to be a disproportionate response from the Department which in any case will not affect those abusing the system,” she said.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department said the minister would add proposals to the Immigration Bill 2002, currently before the Oireachtas, while other proposals being debated by a Government sub-committee may require further drafting of new legislation. Meanwhile the Attorney General has been asked to provide legal advice on proposals including a plan by Justice to take over the administration of welfare payments to asylum seekers from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.