On detention: asylum moves

The Government plans to place asylum seekers from certain states in detention while they await their application for refugee …

The Government plans to place asylum seekers from certain states in detention while they await their application for refugee status to be decided.

It will also introduce a fast-track system to process asylum claims, cancel State services to asylum seekers refused leave to stay and make residence permits mandatory for all non-EU nationals.

The measures are included in the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, which is due to be published by the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, in the next few weeks.

The tough new measures proposed for asylum seekers are modelled on similar systems already in place in the Netherlands and Britain, which have been visited by Irish officials.

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The introduction of detention for some asylum seekers is intended to cut down the number of people who stay illegally after their asylum applications have been turned down.

It is hoped that most asylum claims will be processed within a few weeks under the new system, which will pioneer one-stop asylum application shops at the centres. These closed centres will house asylum seekers through the entire decision-making and appeals process on applications.

The Government's move to beef up its asylum laws comes as the number of applications fell to its lowest level in years. In 2006 there were 4,314 asylum applications, compared with 4,323 in 2005, 4,766 in 2004 and 11,634 in 2002.