GARDAI and immigration officers are expected to board a ship carrying nine men said to be Liberian stowaways when it docks at Waterford today.
The Croatian registered Buga has been moored off Dunmore East since Thursday due to bad weather. The ship's captain was reported to have radioed Irish authorities on his arrival saying he had nine stowaways on board and that they were seeking political asylum.
According to Ms Nadette Foley, of the Irish Refugee Council, the men will be interviewed on the ship. Under the Aliens Act, anyone arriving without documentation must be granted leave to land before being allowed onshore.
"They will talk to them and see what their wishes are. If their story is confirmed, I would fully expect them to be granted asylum."
A spokesman for the Dunmore East harbourmaster said winds were too high to land the ship yesterday. It is moored about 1 1/2 miles from Dunmore East. He said the ship was due to leave its mooring at around 11 a.m. today. It is expected to dock at Waterford Port or a smaller harbour nearby. It is understood that the ship, believed to be carrying cement, is running low on fuel.
The asylum seekers may be escorted to Dublin if they cannot be accommodated in Waterford. Ms Foley said the council has beef allowed to send lawyers or translators to accompany the authorities in difficult cases.
Normal practice is to grant asylum if a person can prove he/ she is in danger in their native country. In this case, Ms Foley said, it appeared there were no "third country" issues, where refugees have spent some time in a country other than their own before coming to Ireland. In these cases refugees can be returned to that country and told to file an asylum application from there.
Ms Foley said fewer than 40 Liberians a year sought asylum in Ireland. About three weeks ago six Liberians who arrived in Dublin Port were referred to the council by gardai.
The number of people seeking asylum in Ireland is growing. The Government has advertised for a Refugee Applications Commissioner for the body, which is designed to alleviate delays. Ms Foley said 33 people were granted refugee status last year.
