Written answers

Tuesday, 17 June 2008

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Asylum Applications

11:00 pm

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 803: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of investigating and interviewing officers who decide on the applications of asylum seekers employed by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner; if they are full-time employees with a fixed salary or if they are paid on a case by case basis; the qualifications necessary for the position; the training provided; and the way interpreters are chosen in terms of training and skills. [22899/08]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) that 53 civil servants are at present involved in interviewing and making recommendations on applications for refugee status. Other staff in ORAC provide support functions in the asylum area including dealing with cases under the EU Dublin Regulation determining the Member State responsible for processing asylum applications, family reunification functions, information technology support, reception duties in the applications centre and presentation work before the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.

There are no staff employed on a case by case basis in ORAC, however, six of the above staff are employed on contracts of indefinite duration. Under the terms of the Protection of Employees (Fixed Term Work) Act 2003, staff appointed on temporary contracts must be treated as "comparable permanent employees" for the purpose of pay and incremental progression. The remainder of staff are permanent employees. Staff working in the Office satisfy the qualifications criteria relevant to the civil service grade to which they are appointed.

A comprehensive training programme is provided to staff who are assigned to work in the area of Refugee Status Determination (RSD) as well as ongoing training. Training programmes are provided by a combination of ORAC's in-house training team and outside experts including UNHCR.

As well as general training, the staff working in the RSD case processing area are provided with training on a wide variety of issues which arise in refugee status determination. These include gender based matters, dealing with traumatised applicants, the use of Country of Origin information and interview techniques. In addition, training and guidance is provided to both new and experienced caseworkers on issues such as the meaning of persecution, the internal protection alternative, agents of persecution, dual nationality, credibility and the use of and reliance on identity documentation.

Finally, training is also provided to sensitively deal with vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied minors and victims of sexual violence. The latter is provided by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.

In relation to the provision of interpretation services in the asylum determination process, the sole purpose of the use of an interpreter at asylum interviews is to enable efficient and effective communication between the asylum applicant and the interviewing officer and to ensure that the asylum applicant has a full opportunity to put forward his or her case. Interpreters are obliged to provide true and accurate translations of the questions asked and the answers given. They must observe absolute impartiality, advise of any conflict of interest arising and observe a comprehensive duty of confidence in relation to any information obtained in the course of their duties.

The sourcing of interpreters for asylum interviews is arranged through an interpretation service provider as needs arise. This service is provided under the terms of a contract for interpretation services between the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the company concerned, following an EU wide tender competition.

Under the provisions of the contract, the service provider is responsible for the selection of the interpreters and for ensuring the competency and proficiency in both English and the language / dialect required of the interpreters. The interpreters are required to have undergone training on the asylum process, arranged by the interpretation company.

While it is not possible to comment on the internal training provided by the interpretation service provider to their staff, I am advised that UNHCR has provided training to interpreters in the past in relation to interpreting with regard to the asylum process. ORAC also regularly monitors the standard and quality of service provided by its interpretation suppliers through its internal quality assurance systems and by having regular meetings with the manager of the relevant company to ensure that the interpreters are professional in the course of their duty. The ORAC has developed guidelines relating to the use of interpretation in the ORAC in consultation with UNHCR.

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