Róisín Shortall
Question:13 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures, if any, he has taken to reduce the number of persons awaiting decisions on their refugee status under existing procedures. [17212/97]
Priority Questions. - Status of Refugees.
On his appointment as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister commenced a review of arrangements for processing applications for refugee status. Within a few weeks he was satisfied resources both in terms of staff numbers and basic facilities were inadequate to deal with the number of applications being lodged. It is evident to all on a daily basis as we enter the Department the extent of the problem being faced. The Minister, therefore, sought immediate action and obtained Government approval for additional staff to be appointed to the Department and for new premises to be obtained.
In addition, a dispute about payment of legal fees which had prevented appeals against refusal of refugee status from being dealt with for nearly three years was resolved in June. The Minister arranged for appeal hearings to recommence on 12 August. Resolution of this dispute means it is now possible to finalise the processing of appeals against a finding that an individual has no entitlement to refugee status. The Minister issued a statement, inter alia, about these measures on 6 August.
Recruitment of the additional staff is in hand and the Office of Public Works has in the past few days completed legal formalities for the acquisition of new accommodation. Work on fitting out the new accommodation, estimated to cost £2.5 million, has started and the accommodation should be ready for use in February. Until then the work of processing applications will continue in temporary accommodation.
The Minister met representatives of the UNHCR and discussions between that office and his officials are continuing with a view to establishing a procedure to deal with the backlog of cases which has built up over the past two years or so and which currently stands at about 3,500. Both the UNHCR and the Minister are satisfied the arrangement made in 1985 involving formal consultation with the UNHCR in each case is no longer workable due to the huge increase in numbers applying and that a new approach is necessary. The Minister wishes to place on record his appreciation of the advice and assistance being given by the UNHCR in the matter and especially, as part of that assistance, the acceptance by the UNHCR of his offer of part funding for the placement by the UNHCR of one of its staff in Dublin for the next 12 months or so to assist his Department in dealing with the situation.
The Minister is satisfied these measures, taken together, will bring an improvement in the position, not just in fairness to those who have applied for refugee status who are entitled to a speedy decision, but also to the taxpayer who must support applicants and their families while a decision is pending.
The Refugee Act, 1996, is dealt with in other questions and has, therefore, not been included in this reply.
We have seen a distinct lack of urgency regarding this problem in recent months. There are 3,500 people awaiting a decision on their applications for asylum, with a three year waiting period. The status of these people changes if they have children born here. Is the Minister serious in addressing this problem? He has already made passing comments regarding the legislation and whether it needs to be reviewed or if new legislation will be brought forward. He has also spoken of the High Court injunction which has delayed matters. In the meantime he has a serious responsibility in this matter. Has the proposal to recruit additional staff been agreed with staff interests in the
Department of Justice? How many staff does the Minister propose to assign to this work and what are the terms of the contract they will be offered?
There are 22 staff working on this matter in the Department. The various staff interests have expressed concern about the proposed recruitment of additional staff. Discussions have been taking place between the Department of Finance and the staff side and I hope the matter will be resolved shortly. It is intended to commence taking on new staff as soon as possible thereafter.
The Minister needs to give urgent attention to this unregulated area which is giving rise to racist attitudes. What progress has been made with staff interests in the employment of additional staff? The Minister has not told us anything different from what we were told a month ago. Has any progress been made in terms of securing staff agreement? Will she answer my other questions about the number of people who will be recruited and the terms of the contract they will be offered?
Negotiations are ongoing. It is important to have clarity on it and I expect to have this very soon. There are 22 staff working on this matter. I know the Deputy has genuine concerns about it, but there is a huge number of cases and we want to ensure they are dealt with correctly and that additional staff employed are properly trained. The Department is dealing with the employment of additional staff and the provision of the necessary premises with great haste. The unfortunate incident on 10 October which was referred to was deeply regretted. As a result of this incident every effort is being made within the Department to deal speedily with this issue.
There is no evidence it is being dealt with as a matter of great haste. For the third time, I ask the Minister to state the progress made in securing the agreement of staff interests to the recruitment of additional staff in the Department of Justice and the number of people it is proposed to employ. The Minister cannot continue to say the matter is being dealt with and the Department is doing this, that or the other. When will the staff be recruited, how many people will be recruited, what will be the terms of the contract and when will the negotiations with staff interests be completed?
The matter is being dealt with by the Department as a matter of urgency. The Office of Public Works has been actively working to meet the accommodation needs of the additional staff who will be employed. There was much debate on the suggestion that retired people should be employed to do this work. It is proposed to employ approximately 70 people to deal specifically with this crisis which has arisen as a result of the increase in the number of refugees in recent years. The recruitment of the additional 70 or so staff to the Department will take place speedily. Applications have been received and when they are processed people will be interviewed for the jobs.
There is also the other issue of the acquisition of additional office space where the extra staff can deal with the large number of refugees seeking asylum here. The recruitment of staff is proceeding.
That is not good enough. We have heard much waffle from the Minister.