Madam, – Bishop Raymond Field (Rite Reason, January 4th) identified the lack of clear independent immigration appeals mechanisms and the extraordinary queues in the system as a barrier to immigrant families reunifying in Ireland.
However, this is not the only extraordinary queue within the immigration system. Asylum- seekers too face long periods of uncertainty and insecurity in their lives. Many have been issued with deportation letters, but the process of effecting the deportation can be delayed for over five years. This means five years of no prospect of re-uniting with families, five years of not travelling outside the country, five years of not planning for the future and more often than not five years of depression and anxiety-related health issues.
The asylum system is further undermined by the administrative discretions that Department of Justice officials exercise on individual cases. Bishop Ryan is correct in saying that the system is in need of good governance guidelines that are applied in a transparent, responsible and cost-effective manner. Ireland, with its recent social history should be more aware of the importance of good governance when dealing with vulnerable people’s lives. – Yours, etc,