Asylum seeking Romanian gypsies get cold shoulder

Asylum applications by more than 200 Roma gypsies from Romania have been rejected without even being considered, Tánaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell revealed tonight.

But civil liberties campaigners warned there was confusion as to how they ended up in the system as they are citizens of the European Union and had a right to freedom of movement.

The 220 Romas applied for asylum to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner in the last week.

But outlining what he said was “firm action to deal with influx of Romanian asylum seekers”, Mr McDowell said he would apply an EU treaty which blocked applications from EU citizens unless there are exceptional circumstances such as human rights abuses.

Mr McDowell said: “I am taking this firm action now in order to prevent the institution of asylum and our asylum determination process being resorted to for purposes other than those for which they are intended.

“It is abundantly clear that this is the situation which applies in the current circumstances and requires immediate firm action.”

The Department of Justice said the Romanians, on their asylum applications, said they wished to improve their economic well-being and to access the labour market.

And the department also said they indicated an intention to avail of health and housing services in the state.

Under law, Romanians and Bulgarians, despite becoming EU citizens on January 1, cannot come to Ireland to work, nor can they claim benefits on arrival. But it is understood they could travel to Ireland and stay for three months without applying for asylum or registering their presence in the country.

Officials could however block their entry on the grounds that they had no financial means to live or are a threat to national security.

It is understood a number of NGOs working with refugees believe the Romanians made the applications by mistake.

And Peter O’Mahony, chairman of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, said there was confusion over how the Romanians ended up in the asylum system.

“I can’t think of a good reason why Romanians or Bulgarians would voluntarily go into the asylum system where they are going to be in fairly rigidly controlled accommodation and guaranteed a cash income of only €19.10 a week,” Mr O’Mahony said.

“They are not allowed to work. They are limited in access to education for adults and their children almost uniquely have no entitlement to child benefit.”

The Romanians do have the right to stay in Ireland for three months, after that they must seek permanent residency but it is understood some of them are already making arrangements to return home.