Religious groups to spearhead improvement in asylum system

Government working group to examine improvements to the direct provision system

Religious organisations asked to serve on a Government working group to examine improvements to the asylum-seeker system have vowed to improved conditions and speed up the asylum process.

“Years awaiting a final determination on applications for asylum is the biggest single issue facing asylum seekers in Ireland and the recently established working group on direct provision must confront this issue,” said Eugene Quinn, Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service.

Mr Quinn pointed out that more than 1,900 asylum seekers have been waiting at least five years since they first applied for asylum. “That is three out of every seven residents in direct provision centres, and many of the issues of concern arising in direct provision arise from this unacceptable delay,” he said.

Torture

Greg Straton, director of Spirasi, a group set up by the Spiritans to support survivors of torture, told The Irish Catholic his primary aim as part of the working group is to “improve how we identify victims of torture when they arrive in the country.

“The earlier the intervention the better,” he said, “and we would like to see people being accommodated in a more healing environment in places of well-being, which is not what is currently occurring. In fact the current system often exacerbates the symptoms of those who have been tortured.”

Reuben Hambakachere, the only representative of asylum-seekers appointed to the working group, said alternatives to direct provision must be found. “I believe this is the opportune time for those who have been voiceless to be finally heard and influence policy on matters affecting their day-to-day lives,” he said.

Mr Hambakachere, who spent eight years in the asylum system, said: “We also need to draw a line under the direct provision system and work towards an alternative that particularly has the best interests of children at its core.”