Written answers

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Department of Justice and Equality

Asylum Applications

Photo of Eric ByrneEric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

281. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the official position on Iraqi refugees coming here in the wake of the ISIS crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35814/14]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Any person who arrives at the frontiers of the State seeking asylum in the State, or seeking the protection of the State against persecution, or requesting not to be returned or removed to a particular country, or otherwise indicating an unwillingness to leave the State for fear of persecution can apply to the Minister for a declaration of refugee status. Applications for asylum in the State are investigated and determined by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner in accordance with the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended).

Our in-country protection system is supplemented by other protection related arrangements already in place in the State. These include our commitment to the UNHCR resettlement programme under which the Government has already committed to accept 90 persons this year who have been displaced by the Syrian conflict. The Deputy may also be aware of the Syrian Humanitarian Admission Programme (SHAP) introduced earlier this year which offers temporary Irish residence - rather than refugee status - to vulnerable persons present in Syria, or who have fled from Syria to surrounding countries since the outbreak of the conflict in March 2011, and who have close family members residing in the State.

With regard to persons in Iraq, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and I have been discussing the ways in which Ireland can also offer refuge to a number of families who have seen their lives devastated by the appalling violence and oppression in that country. We are both anxious that Ireland plays its part and I have agreed that Ireland will provide refuge to a small number of families fleeing the violence being perpetrated by ISIS in Northern Iraq. The details of the arrangements to be put in place for this purpose are under consideration having regard to the experience to date in relation to the SHAP referred to above.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.