Written Answers - Refugee Legal Services.
Seán Barrett
Question:
17
Mr. Barrett
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the number of persons who tendered for employment with the independent legal service for asylum seekers; the number of tenders accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25031/98]
Michael D. Higgins
Question:
35
Mr. M. Higgins
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if he will ensure that all asylum applicants can avail of independent legal representation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25163/98]
Question:
135
Dr. Upton
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if he will ensure that all asylum applicants have access to independent legal representation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25319/98]
Ivor Callely
Question:
144
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the process and criteria applicable to avail of funds from the £1 million funding in 1999 for legal services for refugee applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25200/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 35, 135 and 144 together.
In May 1998 my Department sought tenders from persons interested in establishing and maintaining an independent refugee legal service to provide legal advice and representation for asylum seekers in connection with their asylum applications. Five tenders were received and following the detailed evaluation process conducted by officials of my Department, the Office of the Attorney General and the UNHCR it was recommended that the tender be abandoned and no contract awarded. I accepted this recommendation.
I am pleased to announce that agreement has been reached with the Legal Aid Board on arrangements for the provision of a comprehensive legal service for asylum seekers. The refugee legal service will be independent of the Department and will provide legal advice and representation for asylum seekers. It will assist asylum seekers in exercising their legal rights in all aspects of the Irish asylum procedure.
As part of the service, the board will arrange for translation services to be made available on a contract basis. In addition, the board will be responsible for managing a documentation facility to provide up-to-date background information on countries of origin.
The new legal service will be provided based at the one-stop-shop centre for asylum seekers at Lower Mount Street. It is my intention that it will be available by end February 1999.
The staff for the service will be provided from the existing staff of the board and new staff to be recruited specially for this service. I wish to emphasise that replacements for any existing staff transferring to the new service will be in place in law centres before staff are released to take up their new duties in the dedicated centre for the refugee legal service.
The recruitment process will commence immediately and arrangements have been made for initial training to take place in the new year for all staff involved in the provision of this service. The services provided by the Legal Aid Board will include a substantial element of private practitioner input.
The refugee legal service will be ring-fenced in terms of funding and resources from the existing law centre service and will not interfere with the existing commitments of the Legal Aid Board.
