Sir, - The article by the Labour Party leader, Ruari Quinn, concerning refugees and asylum-seekers (Opinion, May 3rd) is both inconsistent and distorted. Responding to criticism of his leadership on this issue, Mr Quinn goes on to distort facts and make ill-thought and unsubstantiated comments. He submits that the Minister for Justice should "reflect on his position on deportations" and reiterates Labour's call for the "regularisation of the position of asylum-seekers" who are in the country for a certain length of time. However, nowhere does he actually condemn the policy of deportation outright. In fact he then goes on to state that deportations should be used against people who have no case to remain here. Surely this is a contradiction. To state that one asylum-seeker who entered the country some time ago before a certain "prescribed" date should be effectively granted an "amnesty" while an asylum-seeker entering after that date in similar circumstances should be deported is clearly unfair and irrational. Mr Quinn is effectively arguing that those who are not genuinely entitled to refugee status should be granted the right to stay simply because they have been here for a certain length of time. The UNHCR has stated that the abuse of asylum procedures by those who are in effect economic migrants clogs up determination procedures and should be discouraged to the greatest extent possible.
Mr Quinn's suggestions certainly do nothing to discourage those who do not have a well-founded case for refugee status from travelling to Ireland in order to seek just that. Is he suggesting that we turn a blind eye to those who seek to abuse the procedures? The Labour Party Leader also refers to the lack of any awareness campaign as promised by Government. Yet this Government was responsible for the establishment of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism. The objective is to provide an ongoing structure to develop programmes and actions aimed at developing an integrated approach against racism. The "True Colours" programme organised by the Committee, which ran towards the end of last year, proved extremely successful in creating an awareness of anti-racism and interculturalism. Many of the workshops focused on the integration of refugees in particular. The committee was given £90,000 to fund its programme of activities in 1999, and this allocation was increased to £150,000 in 2000. The committee is currently carrying out excellent work in promoting awareness of issues facing ethnic minorities in Ireland.
Mr Quinn also referred to the Taoiseach's alleged "exaggeration" of the problem of asylum-seekers and refugees. This is quite simply unfounded. The Taoiseach has continually referred to the need for social inclusion and his vision of an "open, tolerant and welcoming society, not only pluralist but multi-cultural".
This Government has been pro-active and even-handed in its response to asylum and immigration. The Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform recently announced that the procedures for processing asylum applications has been further streamlined. One effect is that those whose applications are well founded will be quickly identified and avoid having to wait long periods.
The Minister has also worked quickly to ensure there is sufficient accommodation and support for asylum-seekers. In fact the Government has decided that permanent accommodation for 4,000 asylum seekers is to be constructed as quickly as possible. This Government thought long and hard about the policy of dispersal, which is a sensible solution to solving the accommodation needs of asylum-seekers and refugees. The alternative is to allow applicants to sleep in the open air and clearly no Government could countenance that approach.
Had Mr Quinn, together with his colleagues in the discredited Rainbow Government, displayed any political courage in dealing with this issue while in office he would be entitled to some credit. Instead of badly needed action and a strategy to tackle this issue, we got procrastination and an unforgivable lack of political courage to deal with this clearly emerging problem. Perhaps he would be better advised, as he ponders yet another opinion poll confirming his party's descent into political irrelevancy, to use his time in Opposition to develop alternative policies that might resonate with the Irish people. Far be it from me to presume to advise Mr Quinn and his cohorts, but a wake-up call for them would be high on my prescription list. - Yours, etc.,
Sean Ardagh TD, Chairman, Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, Leinster House, Dublin 2.