Asylum move on minors may affect Ireland

IRELAND could be subject to Europe-wide legislation on the treatment of separated minors seeking asylum, the United Nations refugee agency has said.

Sophie McGuinness of UNHCR Ireland said proposals were “on the table” as a new report published yesterday showed that in some cases minors seeking asylum did not know who to complain to about aspects of their care, and in some cases did not believe their allocated social workers were working fully on their behalf.

The report, Closing a Protection Gap, produced by the Irish Refugee Council, features data derived from face-to-face interviews with separated children in the asylum system, as well as HSE staff, care workers and social workers.

Most of the young people interviewed were boys, came from Afghanistan, Iraq and Uganda, and stayed in different care settings, including hostels and residential homes. Some had ‘aged out’ in the system before their status had been decided.

Just last week Ireland’s asylum system and the way it treats unaccompanied children was criticised by the European Commission, which has suggested it threatens the rights of the most vulnerable across the EU.

Sophie McGuinness said more measures needed to be introduced to help children and young people, many of whom are vulnerable having come to Ireland alone.

“We do not have a clear definition of what the role of the Guardian Ad Litem is and the statutory role of the HSE,” she said.

Ms McGuinness said one proposal which should be explored would be where a separated minor would be accompanied to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commission (ORAC) on a quiet day prior to their interview, to allow them to familiarise themselves with where their interview will take place.

She said the EU might adopt Europe-wide legislation in relation to separated children, given the protection gaps that have been identified in the system. “That is still on the table and we have to see how far that goes.”

The report, compiled by Samantha Arnold, separated children’s officer with the Irish Refugee Council, found issues with accommodation, dispersal around the country as those minors got older, and problems with family reunification and food quality.

The IRC said it hoped to open its own independent law centre with four full-time staff, including a specialist in child law, by the start of June.

www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie