Written Answers. - Policy on Refugees.
Nora Owen
Question:
51
Mrs. Owen
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will give details of the amalgamation of the policy advisory committee on refugees and the refugee resettlement committees; the terms of reference of the amalgamated committee; and if it will cater for all refugees.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:
52
Mr. J. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will outline his policy on refugees.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 52 together.
The basic principle guiding Government policy on refugees is the need to encourage and assist where possible efforts by the international community to build up respect for human rights and to resolve inter state and regional conflicts and disputes, in order to make it possible for the millions of refugees worldwide to return to their homes.
Until these solutions are found, international measures are necessary to protect and support refugees. These include the Geneva Conventions and the operation of the United Nations and other agencies which assist refugees. I have primary responsibility for relationships with the international agencies — in particular the leading UN agency, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees — for funding emergency relief for refugees and for the admission and integration of refugees brought to Ireland under Government decision. Asylum seekers are the responsibility of the Minister for Justice.
In relation to my areas of responsibility, I am pleased to note, first, that we have increased our contribution to general operations of UNHCR by 5 per cent in the current year. In addition, Ireland continues to contribute generously to UNHCR and other agencies involved in relief operations for refugees in different parts of the world. The most recent example is that of the Kurdish refugees for which £0.55 million in bilateral aid has been provided, including £0.15 million for UNHCR and £0.685 million through the Community budget.
Since 1985 my Department have responsibility for a programme of admission and integration of Vietnamese refugees and their immediate families in Ireland. Their present number stands at over 400. Our policy is to enable them "to integrate into Irish society and to share in and contribute to its development". This is done by providing special intensive assistance after arrival to ensure that they benefit from the full range of public services available to Irish people and by providing english language classes. New arrivals are also brought to the attention of voluntary groups who can help in very valuable but informal ways in the development of contacts with the Irish community and in bridging the gap between the refugees' experience and that of Irish society.
Following on the recommendations of a report by the Policy Advisory Committee on Refugees (PAC) the Government decided recently to establish a refugee agency by merging the PAC and the Refugee Resettlement Committee (RRC). Although these two committees, both in operation since 1986, had somewhat different functions — that of the PAC being to advise the Minister for Foreign Affairs on policy matters which may arise in dealing with the admission and integration of refugees into Ireland on foot of Government decisions, while that of the RRC was to deal with the practical day-to-day aspects of the Government's refugee resettlement programme — they effectively worked in parallel with each other and it was decided that there was no need for two separate committees.
Under its terms of reference, the refugee agency will combine the functions of the PAC and RRC. It will be responsible for the development of policies for the reception and integration of refugees in Ireland. It will arrange, in co-ordination with the relevant public authorities, practical assistance in key areas such as accommodation, social welfare and English language courses. In view of the importance of social integration it will also try to nurture community support, particularly on a local basis. It will operate under the aegis of the Minister for Foreign Affairs who will appoint the board of directors to be drawn mainly from relevant Government Departments.
A new development is that it will be chaired by an independent unpaid chairman to be appointed by the Minister. It will be funded by a Government grant-in-aid which will be paid, as at present in the case of the RRC, on an annual basis by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The refugee agency will be responsible for the reception and integration of all refugees admitted into Ireland under Government decisions but not asylum seekers for whom separate arrangements apply.
