Spiritan Asylum Services Initiative

213 North Circular Road | Phibsborough | Dublin 7 | D07 KH9C

Phone: (01) 8389664 / (01) 8683504 | Fax: 01-8823547
info@spirasi.ie | www.spirasi.ie

Spirasi Statement on the Publication of the International Protection Bill

Spirasi welcomes the recent publication of the International Protection Bill. The
Bill is a critical step in the reform of the broken international protection process
in Ireland. The enactment of this legislation is especially important given the
current increase in the number of people now arriving into Ireland seeking safety.
Whilst Spirasi is supportive of the publication of the Bill and its swift passage
through the legislative process we are especially concerned that it does not take
into account the recommendations of the Independent Working Group on the
Protection Process. The Working Group included all of the relevant state
departments as well as Non-governmental Organizations in its deliberations.
Many of the recommendations, which were arrived at by consensus, would also
bring Ireland into line with the Common European Asylum System. In a time
where the Irish government is taking a lead role in calling for a joint European
response to the refugee crisis it is our opinion that it is now publishing legislation
that maintains it as distinctly separate from Europe. This legislation could be an
opportunity for the government to continue to display leadership and to bring
about reforms that would display its actual commitment to assisting refugees.
Additionally the Bill has not significantly altered following the interim report of
the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equalitys Pre-legislative Scrutiny of
the General Scheme of the International Protection Bill 1.
This was the only
opportunity given to allow for any external submissions on the Bill.
We are especially disappointed that provisions for the early identification and
monitoring of vulnerable asylum seekers in the international protection process
have not been included in the legislation. This continues an approach to
protection that relies too heavily on the self-identification of vulnerable
applicants, which is already problematic in a system that takes more than four
years on average to be concluded. The potential for vulnerable applicants to slip
through the cracks in a more effective and efficient, speeded up, process needs
to be properly addressed in the Bill.

http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/justice/Interim-Report-Appendices---Int-Protection.pdf
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Company no. 476831 | Charity no. CHY 16923
Board of Directors: Rev. Brendan Carr C.S.Sp (Chair) | Peter OMahony (Secretary) | Marie Bramble | Karen Berkeley | Rev.
Toochukwu Ekwonadu C.S.Sp | Gerald Griffin | Miriam Birungi Omoro | Sr. Joan Roddy | Thomas Ryan | Dr. Philip Wiehe
SPIRASI is supported by the: Health Services Executive, City of Dublin Education and Training Board, United Nations Voluntary
Fund for Victims of Torture, Tusla Child and Family Agency, and World Mercy Fund