Immigration Bill 2002 to change

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday January 10, 2003 17:33 by Fergus

Who's going to tell asylum seekers ?

The Government is planning to introduce regulations which will require people seeking asylum to apply as soon as they enter the state. Social Welfare payments will be witheld from asylum seekers who do not claim asylum immediately at their point of entry to Ireland.

The Irish Examiner reports today that the Dept. of Justice is planning to introduce regulations to the Immigration Bill 2002 which will require people seeking asylum to apply as soon as they enter the state. Copying policies introduced in Britain this week, social welfare payments will be witheld from asylum seekers who do not claim asylum immediately at their point of entry into Ireland.
The Irish Refugee council points out "Many of them fear they won't get into the country if they say something at the border and who is going to tell them now that if they don't apply at their point of entry they will lose everything".
The Refugee Officer from Amnesty International suggests the system used in the U.S. where people could claim asylum any time up to a year after entering the country.