Nasc, the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre: “Profoundly concerning that Ireland intends to opt into the EU Asylum and Migration Pact”

Nasc, the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre has expressed its profound concern at the announcement yesterday from the government that Ireland intends to opt into the EU Asylum and Migration Pact.  

While acknowledging the complexities of managing migration flows, we believe that certain aspects of this pact pose significant risks to fundamental human rights and international standards.  

Outsourcing Asylum Application Processing 

The EU's approach to externalising asylum applications risks fundamentally undermining the principle of international protection and jeopardising the safety and protection of asylum seekers.  

Detention 

The EU Asylum and Migration Pact seems to endorse a more permissive approach to detention. Detention should only ever be used as a measure of last resort and in strict accordance with international law. We will strongly object to any proposals which would appear to introduce and normalise detention of asylum seekers in Ireland.  

Accommodation Strategy 

The government also announced a new Accommodation Strategy for International Protection Applicants. We welcome the introduction of child benefit aligned payments and specific accommodation for vulnerable groups, as initially outlined in the Catherine Day Report and the White Paper on Ending Direct Provision.  

The three near-term actions identified in this strategy to end homelessness are the conversion of office accommodation units, the construction of prefabricated accommodation on state land, and the buying of units. However, there is nothing to suggest that the government will be able to bring these ideas to fruition – and provide actual housing - in the coming weeks and months. This is deeply concerning, particularly in light of the increasing likelihood that families, including women and children will be left without accommodation. 

ENDS 

Contact: Olivia Teahan – [email protected]