Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1148: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform his views on the perceived impartiality or otherwise of the Reception and Integration Agency in so far as it deals with complaints from residents in direct provision centres and his views that an independent appeals mechanism be established which is not under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33316/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Complaints by residents of direct provision centres are dealt with in accordance with the procedures outlined in the recently published revised house rules and procedures of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department, which are available on the RIA website at http://www.ria.gov.ie. A copy of these rules and procedures is provided to all asylum seekers on arrival at their accommodation centre.

Experience has shown that, given the nature and the number of such complaints, they are best resolved by informal discussion between residents and management at a local level. Where more serious complaints arise that cannot be resolved informally, residents have the right to lodge a formal written complaint with centre management and are entitled to a response within 14 days. If the issue remains unresolved, the resident has the right to take their complaint to RIA. RIA will make a determination on the complaint and the results of that decision are binding on both centre management and residents. If the resident's complaint is upheld, RIA will ensure that management take appropriate action to rectify the situation.

I should say that rules and procedures were only recently revised arising from a report from a Working Party, the membership of which included the Refugee Information Service and the Irish Refugee Council. During those Working Party discussions the issue of an independent appeals mechanism, on which differing views were held, was fully discussed. The system of direct provision is sui generis and a complaints resolution procedure operating in that context must be one that is fair and efficient but also workable. I am satisfied that, given the time and effort devoted by the Working Party to try and come up with a complaints procedure that achieves a balance between these requirements that the current procedure is the best that can be achieved in the circumstances. It will, nonetheless, remain under constant review.