Vol. 460 No. 7
88 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Justice if any inquiry and review has been held into the operations of the Immigration Service at Shannon Airport arising out of allegations made in a recent CPT report that officers were unco-operative and gave misleading information to the delegation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2087/96]
I assume the Deputy is referring to the report of the European Committee for Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), about aspects of the Garda Immigration Service at Shannon Airport.
The recommendation of the committee were addressed in the Government's response to the CPT report which along with the CPT report itself, was published on 13 December 1995.
Copies of both reports have been lodged in the Oireachtas library. Among the changes put in train are: in 1993 a programme of training in relation to asylum specially designed for immigration officers was initiated. The course was run in conjuction with the UNHCR. Its aim was to broaden the understanding of the concept of political asylum and Ireland's obligations under the 1951 UN Convention relating to the status of asylum seekers. It also aimed to train immigration officers on how to establish if a person was an asylum seeker as well as providing advice on interviewing such persons.
Arrangements for the provision of interpreters for foreign nationals who do not speak English are in place. Preparation of a multi-language information sheet for asylum seekers is in train.
