Ms Karen McHugh:

I thank the joint committee for inviting me to make a presentation. Doras Luimní was established in February 2000 on foot of the announcement of the policy of dispersing asylum seekers outside Dublin. A group of individuals in Limerick called a meeting to see how best the city might prepare to welcome new arrivals and consider the types of issue the newcomers might encounter on their arrival.

"Doras" stands for "development organisation for refugees and asylum seekers". Ours is a support organisation focused on the human rights of migrants. Migrants' rights are human rights entirely, no different from those of anybody else. We are not requesting anything extra for the people we represent. Our work is based around three pillars, namely, direct support work, integration and campaigning. Direct support work comprises advice and information services, including the provision of a legal clinic. The integration aspect consists of integration policy planning. Members may be aware that Limerick is soon to become the second city in Ireland to be designated an intercultural city under the Council of Europe's Intercultural Cities, ICC, programme. The third pillar of our work involves campaigning on three specific issues - racism, trafficking and protection, with our key campaign focusing on issues to do with direct provision.

I will concentrate on three particular issues in my presentation. Some of the points I intended to make have already been covered by the delegates from the Irish Refugee Council. I will try to avoid repetition, but members might already have heard some of the points I intend to make. However, there is no harm in saying these things again.