Ireland’s poor record of recognising refugees “cannot be easily explained away by the ‘quality’” of asylum seekers in the State, the Irish Refugee Council (IRC) has said. Reacting to a recent statement by the Department of Justice in response to concerns of the UN Committee Against Torture, which has been probing Ireland’s human rights record, the IRC said Ireland is not getting the ‘wrong kind’ of asylum seeker – rather, asylum seekers in the country are receiving the wrong protection system.
“This fails the Irish people as much as it fails those who seek protection,” said Sue Conlan, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council.
According to Conlan, over the years the Department of Justice has based its argument primarily upon the five main nationalities – including Nigeria, China and Pakistan – that have topped applications for asylum here.
She said a detailed comparison with other European states with a substantial number of applicants from same countries shows that nationality cannot account for Ireland’s low recognition rate.
Conlan argued that three factors are contributing to this.
“First, the culture of disbelief which means that facts irrelevant to the question of persecution are held to undermine the credibility and result in a negative verdict.
“Second, the checks and balances which are set out as minimum standards for all EU countries and which help offset the negative assumptions about those applying for asylum are not in place here. Third, the system lacks an effective, truly independent appeals mechanism.”
Conlan said “these errors or omissions” often make it necessary for lawyers to courts to challenge negative decisions.
She added: “Any delays in the court system or on the part of the Department of Justice in processing claims for subsidiary protection or leave to remain are not the responsibility of either asylum seekers or their lawyers. Any suggestion to the contrary is disingenuous.”
The Department of Justice has yet to respond to Conlan’s comments by press time.
