Ireland among slowest in Europe to grant refugee status

The Irish rate of granting refugee status to asylum seekers is well below the EU average, it was claimed today.

As Pamela Izevbekhai’s high-profile deportation battle continues in the courts, latest figures reveal Ireland ranks 18th out of Europe’s 27 countries for allowing asylum.

The Irish Refugee Council study backs up Government plans for a radical overhaul of the refugee system, which would see applications for various types of protection considered together under one system.

Robin Hanan, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council, said the single procedure needs to be well organised.

“The single procedure is an enormous opportunity to bring about positive change to Ireland’s protection system,” he said.

“It is in the interests of protection applicants and the Irish people alike that this opportunity is seized – and not squandered.

“Without proper investment, the single protection procedure could lead to more errors in decision making which could lead to applicants – asylum seekers - being put in danger by being wrongly returned to their country of origin.”

The report – The Single Protection Procedure – A chance for change – reveals Ireland’s rate of granting asylum stood at just 9.3% in 2006, compared with the EU average of 22.3%.

In 2005 it was just 8.7% versus the average of 15.5%.

Lithuania topped the list both years with a rate of 63.1% in 2005 and 73.1% in 2006, while Estonia was at the bottom.

Some 3,866 people applied for asylum in Ireland in 2008, with a gradual fall year on year since the peak of 2002 when 11,634 applied to come.

The country’s asylum system has come under the spotlight over Nigerian Pamela Izevbekhai’s high-profile court case against moves to deport her and her family.

She claims her two daughters will face female genital mutilation (FGM) if they return to Nigeria.

The Immigration Residence and Protection Bill 2008 is expected this year to bring applications for refugee status or subsidiary protection (designed to protect non-nationals who do not qualify as refugees but face dangers if they return home) under one procedure.

The IRC has set out a series of recommendations to ensure the single protection procedure is rolled out effectively, including:

:: Applicants should be clearly advised to seek legal advice at the earliest possible stage and, above all, before they fill out the questionnaire outlining their case for protection.

:: Applicants should be clearly advised to seek legal advice at the earliest possible stage and, above all, before they fill out the questionnaire outlining their case for protection.

:: Justice Minister Dermot Ahern should commission independent comprehensive research into the reasons why the Irish protection recognition rate is lower than the EU average.

:: Whatever deadlines are set for submission of documents by the applicant should be clearly drawn to the applicant’s attention and should allow the applicant sufficient time, including time to consult a lawyer.