Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

I compliment all those who have given assistance to the men and children in St. Patrick's Cathedral. I have concerns about the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and the men, whom I call upon to give up their hunger strike. I call on the Minister to do what he can either to meet with these men or facilitate a further meeting between them or their representatives and his Department.

My concerns about the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, which I have previously raised, still remain. The Minister appoints the members of the tribunal, there is no independent selection or interview and I have heard that at least one member has never granted leave to remain to any individual with whose case he has dealt. I do not know if the latter assertion is true but I do know that the process is at variance with international norms.

I make a direct appeal to the men and children to give up their hunger strike. I want them to go through the full legal process which remains available to them. It is crucial that they avail of this process and do not turn away from the agencies offering help.

I call on the Minister either to meet the men or facilitate a process of discussion with them. I am heartened by the fact that some meetings have taken place to date but there are real concerns about the process. Four out of every five applicants from Afghanistan have been refused. There are concerns about delays since some of the men have been waiting for decisions for many years, concerns that their stories are not being listened to by those they meet in the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and very simple concerns about translation and their inability to make themselves clear. The desperate measures they have taken are a reflection of the desperate situation which exists in the system, which needs radical reform. It does not simply concern the problems of Afghanistan; it also concerns the problems of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. I ask the Minister to assess carefully any application made to him under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999.

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