Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 2

Written Answers. - Policy on Refugees.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

15 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Justice if, 50 years after the ending of World War II, she will apologise to the Jewish Community on behalf of her Department for the policy restricting Jewish immigration as stated at the 1938 Evian Conference and for its failure to accept Jewish refugees fleeing persecution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10365/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

From my inquiries to date, I can advise the Deputy that in 1938 a 32 nation international conference was held in Evian to seek a solution to the Jewish refugee problem. This conference succeeded only in establishing an international governmental committee on refugees with a headquarters in London.

The Deputy will be aware that the Taoiseach held a commemoration service for all those killed in the Holocaust on 28 April, as a mark of the Irish people's solidarity to the Jewish Community. Also, as the Taoiseach said in his address at the Joint Commemoration by the Jewish Community and the Ireland-Israel Friendship League on 26 April last:

As a society we have become more willing to accept our responsibility to respond to events beyond our shores. We are today a society more willing to undertake obligations for building a better and safer world. We have learnt that we have a role to play in seeking to prevent persecution and war and in alleviating the suffering which they bring.

I would like to assure the Deputy that our refugee practice has advanced over the years and that, while I am Minister for Justice, I will endeavour to ensure that it accords with the highest international standards. This is one of the central aims of the Refugee Bill which is now before the Select Committee on Legislation and Security and the review of which is being progressed by a Minister of State at my Department.

I would instance three ways in which our practice in relation to refugees is demonstrated: (i) our increased role in UN sponsored activities; (ii) Government decisions through the years to admit groups in need of the protection to the State, most recently the Vietnamese and Bosnians; and (iii) our intention (and that of the previous Government) to place our international obligations to refugees on a statutory footing.

I have outlined some of the basic features of my plans in relation to refugees in the past and will be glad to develop the theme now if that is the Deputy's wish.