Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Nov 1996

Vol. 472 No. 1

Written Answers. - Bosnian Nationals.

Seán Haughey

Question:

234 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice if Bosnian nationals have been admitted as residents to this State during the past five years; if so, the terms, conditions and procedures involved; whether any of these Bosnian nationals were given citizenship or a certificate of naturalisation; her views on reports to the effect that a Bosnian woman and her child were seen begging in Henry Street in Dublin on Saturday, 16 November 1996; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22674/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

By virtue of seven Government decisions taken since 1992 in response to humanitarian appeals, 705 persons from the formers Yugoslavia have been admitted to the State. The latest decision was taken in August 1995 in response to an appeal from the United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees. This latest decisions provided for the admittance of up to 250 persons from the former Yugoslavia together with their close relatives. To date some 151 of these persons have arrived and a further 39 are to arrive shortly.

These persons, often referred to as programme refugees, are admitted to the temporary protection of the State with the full rights of refugees, in that they benefit from health, social welfare, education, housing and employment-related services on the same basis as Irish nationals. These persons have been advised that there is no question of them being forcibly repatriated to their country of origin and while most have decided to remain in the State a small number have voluntarily returned to their home country.

By virtue of my discretionary powers under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, 1956 and 1986, I have decided that these programme refugees from the former Yugoslavia may apply for naturalisation as Irish citizens after three years' residency in the State. In this regard they are being treated in a similar manner to "convention refugees", that is, those persons who are granted refugee status under the provisions of the 1951 United Nations Conventions relating to refugee status as amended by the 1967 New York Protocol thereto. My Department has already received 126 applications for naturalisation from programme refugees from the former Yugoslavia and the processing of these applications has commenced.

In addition to programme refugees from the former Yugoslavia, we have received a number of applications for asylum from individuals from this region who have made their own way here over the past five years. The applications of these persons are being considered in accordance with our international obligations in this area. Such persons would usually be illegal immigrants to this country, most of them not being in possessions of visas; but it is the general practice that persons in those circumstances who seek asylum having arrived here will not be removed from the State until their applications for asylum have been fully considered. The Refugee Act 1996, which I expect will be in force early next year, puts this practice on a statutory footing.

I am aware that persons putting themselves forward as refugees or asylum seekers from various areas of central and eastern Europe have been seen begging in our streets. There are some indications that not all of those with placards or notes to that effect are from where they say they are, or are in fact asylum seekers at all in some cases. The Garda Síochána have been advised of the situations.

In so far as this activity is concerned, I might add for the Deputy's informations that supplementary welfare allowance — SWA — legislation provides an entitlements to "every person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet his needs..."; section 171 Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 1993. There is no residence conditions in the legislation, and presence in the State is sufficient to receive a payment regardless of immigrations status. Accordingly, programme refugees who are not in employment qualify for SEA, as do asylum seekers. A single person may qualify for a payment of £62.40 per week and a married couple with three children may qualify for a payment of £140.50 per week. Payment may continue indefinitely and may include all SWA elements including basic payments, rent supplements and other payments such as exceptional needs payments and clothing and footwear allowance.