Figures released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees show that Ireland still has to deal with fewer asylum-seekers than most EU countries.
In the first 10 months of this year the comparative figures were: Germany 117,800; Britain 46,890; Netherlands 36,470; Belgium 16,880; France 15,970 (first nine months); Sweden 10,940; Austria 10,680; Italy 4,950 (including at least 1,000 unregistered applicants); Spain 4,830 (first nine months); Denmark 4,510; Ireland 4,040; Greece 2,240; Finland 1,000; and Portugal 280.
When Luxembourg is included, Ireland has fewer asylum-seekers than all but four EU countries. In 1996 and 1997, according to UNHCR figures, Ireland had fewer asylum-seekers than all but five EU countries.
Concern was expressed by senior UNHCR officials in Dublin yesterday that the Austrian EU presidency's proposal to "politicise the asylum process" is part of an underlying trend which will not go away. The UNHCR's director of international protection, Mr Dennis McNamara, who is in Ireland for talks with the Government, welcomed the present EU consensus against the "dilution" of the UN's Geneva Convention on refugees.
However, he said there was a "very worrying move away from the law-based, rights-based approach of the convention. Governments increasingly prefer political and administrative discretion in this area, rather than living up to their treaty obligations". He gave as an example of this the greater use of discretionary "humanitarian leave to remain" powers by European governments.
The agency's European director, Mr Anne Willem Bijleveld, said there was no evidence that the Government was trying to avoid its obligations under the Geneva Convention. He said the Government had decided to allocate £1 million to a legal aid structure for asylum-seekers.
Mr McNamara also appealed to the media to play their part in informing the public properly about refugees and holding governments accountable for their international obligations under UN treaties. He warned that "Foreigners Out" made for a catchier headline that "Refugees In". He also pleaded with the media to avoid confusing refugees with illegal immigrants.