Nasc's 2020 Election Manifesto outlines our headline election priorities in five areas. A copy of the manifesto is available to download here.
A number of our priorities focus on the reform of Ireland's reception system. Nasc would like to reiterate our support for the recommendations made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality in their report on Direct Provision and the International Protection Process published in December 2019. A copy of the submissions made by Nasc to the Committee are available here.
The International Protection Process and the reception system.
- Provide additional resources to the International Protection Office to ensure that waiting times for first instance decisions are reduced to six months, bringing Ireland in line with the Asylum Procedures Directive.
- Reduce or eliminate the time limits, currently 9 months, before an international protection applicant is eligible to apply for a Labour Market Access Permission (right to work). Remove barriers that prevent international protection applicants from accessing their right to work, including the requirement to hold a residence permit (GNIB Card) to apply for a driving licence.
- Introduce an alternative accommodation and reception system for international protection applications. Any alternative model should be not for profit and, at a minimum, have the option of own-door accommodation within the community.
- Implement the National Standards. Commit to ensuring that any future tenders for accommodation meet the requirements set out in the National Standards. Appoint HIQA as an independent inspector to oversee the inspections of centres.
- Make immediate provision for the introduction of vulnerability assessments in line with our legal obligations under the recast Reception Conditions Directive.
Family Reunification
- Restore family reunification rights by enacting the International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill, 2017. The Bill was welcomed and supported by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality in July 2019.
Comprehensive immigration and citizenship legislation reform
- Introduce an independent appeals mechanism for immigration-related decisions.
- Place family reunification rights for Irish and non-EEA citizens (other than beneficiaries of international protection) on a statutory footing. The current system relies on Ministerial discretion.
- Introduce a permanent residence status for non-EEA citizens.
- Legislate to grant citizenship rights to children is born in Ireland to non-national parents once the child has lived in the State for more than three years.
- Provide additional resources to reduce the backlogs in processing citizenship applications. In October 2019, there were 16,000 people waiting for decisions on their applications.
- Place provisions for independent residence for victims of DSGBV on a statutory footing.
Hate speech and hate crime
- Comprehensively reform hate crime and hate speech legislation.
Safe and legal pathways
- Recommit the Irish naval services to providing search and rescue services in the Mediterranean.
Notes:
1. Every TD elected in Cork will have a direct provision centre in their constituency.
Cork East: Ashbourne House and Davis Lane,
Cork North Central: Glenvera Hotel
Cork North West: Drishane Castle and Riverside Hotel (emergency accommodation)
Cork South Central: Kinsale Road Accommodation Centre
Cork South West: Clonakilty Lodge
2. Asylum seekers and refugees are not eligible to vote in the general election.