Sir, - Over two months ago the Government announced the granting of the right to work (with limitations) to asylum-seekers, amid great publicity. However, over two months later the Government has still not issued guidelines for implementation and is failing to follow through on its promise.
Since the announcement on July 23rd no procedures have been put in place to implement the above. There is an obvious lack of information within the relevant Government Departments on what action they should be taking. No proper or consistent information is being made readily available to the asylum-seeking population or especially to employers. There have been no guidelines issued.
Many people, having heard this news in July, will be taking it for granted that asylum-seekers are now availing of their right to work. But only a handful are managing to do so. I ask the Government to take action to ensure that the right to work, as promised to asylum-seekers, will be granted in practice in the immediate future. - Yours, etc.,
Eimer Ni Riain, Ivar Street, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7.