Independent immigration monitor urged for airport

HUMAN rights and refugee groups last night called for the introduction of an independent immigration monitor at Dublin Airport, following concerns over allegations involving immigration gardaí.

Yesterday, the Irish Refugee Council called for an investigation into serious allegations that a member of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) racially abused and attempted to illegally deny asylum to a couple at Dublin Airport.

The couple concerned were ultimately allowed into the country and successfully claimed asylum, but never received any satisfactory response to complaints made to Government departments.

Yesterday a spokeswoman for Justice Minister Michael McDowell said the complaint could not be followed up unless the names of the immigrants involved were provided, and confirmed there were no current plans to allow monitors at any Irish ports or airports.

The Department of Justice has consistently been against the idea of allowing any independent body monitor the immigration unit at ports of entry around the country.

Two years ago the IRC and two other Irish refugee groups were forced to hand back EU funding to employ a monitor after the then Justice Minister John O’Donoghue refused permission for any independent presence.

IRC chief executive Peter O’Mahony said he was disappointed with the Department’s stance and called for the issue to be reconsidered. “We had the money in the bank and were forced to send it back,” he said.

“At EU level there was a lot of support and enthusiasm for the project in Brussels and it was in line with a number of other projects in other EU countries. But it became clear at an early stage that there was just no enthusiasm for it here,” said Mr O’Mahony.

Although concrete evidence is notoriously difficult to come by, the IRC and other refugee groups report increasing concerns over abuses and possible human rights infringements against asylum seekers attempting to enter the country.

Consequently the need for a monitoring presence remained, said Mr O’Mahony. “It’s something we felt at the time was necessary and would have been a very positive contribution. The need that was there when we got the money hasn’t lessened since then.”

Amnesty International who were last year denied access to Ireland’s prisons to carry out a racism study also criticised the Department.

Development officer Jim Loughran said Government departments had an onus to introduce any measures they could to clamp down on the possibility of institutional racism.

“We would reiterate the call for a system to be put in place as an essential step to avoid any similar situations arising. It’s also important to point out that Government departments have a particular responsibility to deal with the issue of institutional racism,” he said.