Commissioner warns on reception centres

The Government needs to cut the time some asylum seekers are spending in reception centres, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights said today.

Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg warned that the uncertainty of their situation "may be the cause of strong distress" and expressed concern about how long children were being kept in the centres.

He also called on the Government to ban corporal punishment. "Chastisement has no place in the education of a child," he said. "A total ban would send a clear message to parents and educators that a different approach must be found."

Mr Hammarberg's review focused mainly on children's rights, juvenile justice, migrants' and women's rights, treatment of asylum seekers and the situation of Travellers.

During his five-day visit to Ireland this week, he met Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Government ministers as well as the Garda Commissioner and senior judges.

Delivering some of his initial findings today, Mr Hammarberg welcomed plans to enshrine the rights of the child in the Constitution, saying it was important to establish that the best interests of children must be a key factor in all decision-making affecting the child.

He was also satisfied with the Government's plans to close St Patrick's prison. He warned that detention of minors should be considered a last resort and urged authorities to use other measures to help reintegrate young offenders back into society.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) have urged the Government to heed what they described as "a wake-up call" from Mr Hammarberg.

ICCL director Mark Kelly called on the Government to "finally live up to its responsibilities as a member State of the Council of Europe",

Liam Herrick, executive director of the IPRT, said Mr Hammarberg's comments highlighted how much work Ireland had yet to do to live up to international obligations in protecting the rights of vulnerable young people.

The commissioner's assessment report is due in early 2008.