Politicians and public officials should avoid using terms that could lead to a mischaracterisation of people in the asylum process, UN assistant high commissioner Erika Feller said yesterday.
Ms Feller was responding to newspaper reports of the Department of Justice secretary general Seán Aylward's comments that most asylum seekers are economic migrants who are willing to "lie through their teeth" to better themselves and their families.
"I think it is crucial that politicians, public officials avoid all terminology which could lead to a mischaracterisation of the problem or the people who are part of it," said Ms Feller.
She acknowledged there were elements of abuse in any system but said there were also many genuine people with serious protection needs seeking asylum in Ireland.
She said the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) was grateful for the system of asylum that Ireland operates.
"It's a system which we believe functions very well.
"And it's a pity that the public are not given the material to realise actually that the system is functioning and it is distinguishing on a proper basis, and that it is responsive to the human rights and protection concerns. And it is a system that the UNHCR is very grateful for."
She said Ireland should be recognised as a generous country in terms of its support for refugees and the UNHCR.
Ms Feller was in Dublin yesterday to take part in a discussion at the Institute for European Affairs on irregular migration movements.
She said the UNHCR planned to meet the Government later in the year to discuss efforts to promote integration.
The UN will host major international talks on migration in New York in September.