Report slams ‘adversarial’ asylum process

Ireland’s high rate of asylum refusal could be linked to the “highly adversarial process” faced by applicants, according to a report being launched today.

The Irish Refugee Council has found there is “considerable potential for error” in the way many applications are dealt with, inconsistencies in how medical and legal files are dealt with, and a failure to provide reasons for not accepting or questioning the authenticity of documentation, sometimes linked to issues such as rape claims.

The council’s CEO, Sue Conlan, one of the authors of the report said that there needed to be greater transparency in the application process as many “who appear to have legitimate claims appear not to be receiving a fair examination of their claim”.