Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 4

Written Answers. - Refugee Act, 1996.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

454 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Justice the progress, if any, which has been made in providing immigration officers with human rights and asylum law training and establishing a panel of interpreters trained in asylum law, prior to the implementation of the Refugee Act, 1996; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1771/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

Work on the implementation of the Refugee Act, 1996, is ongoing in my Department.

In addition to the preparation of the necessary regulations and recruitment of staff, the matter of the training of all persons dealing with asylum seekers is also being addressed. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees — UNHCR — has given a commitment to provide training in asylum law and practice geared to the needs of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and his or her staff, the Refugee Appeal Board and other officials involved in the asylum process. It is envisaged that the training course(s) will also include modules to be given by the Irish Refugee Council and a lawyer experienced in asylum law.

I might add for the Deputy's information that training courses, run in conjunction with the UNHCR, have been held in recent years for both immigration officers and officials of my Department's asylum section. Furthermore, some officials of my Department dealing with asylum matters have attended workshops run by the refugee studies programme at the University of Oxford in matters relating to refugee issues.

In so far as interpreters are concerned, I am not aware of any complaints regarding the interpretation facilities currently provided. This said, this was one of the issues examined by an interdepartmental committee which reported to me in 1996 on "guidelines for the reception of asylum applicants". The committee recommended that a panel of qualified interpreters be drawn up and that they be trained, in conjunction with the UNHCR, in the asylum process. This issue has been taken up with the UNHCR and with the interpreters currently providing interpretation services for the Department. This is a matter which will receive further attention in the context of the implementation of the Refugee Act.