Vol. 526 No. 6
57 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans he has to increase Ireland's annual quota for refugees under the UNHCR resettlement programme, as recently suggested by the UNHCR representative in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25765/00]
I have noted the report of the views of UNHCR's senior liaison officer in Dublin. I was gratified to note in the report that she was impressed with the living standards of asylum seekers, as well as with the attitude of support groups and Government officials.
The Government decision of 3 November 1998 approved the admission into Ireland of up to ten persons annually, above the number admitted as refugees under the convention and other programme refugees. These would be categorised as vulnerable persons by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. In addition, dependant family members of the ten persons could be admitted on a similar basis. As these persons are granted refugee status, the Refugee Agency has responsibility for co-ordinating arrangements for their admission, reception and resettlement.
By the end of 2000, a total of 40 persons will have arrived in Ireland for resettlement under this programme. There are no immediate plans to increase Ireland's annual quota as the programme is relatively new. However, the matter will be kept under review.
The Minister of State is happy with the report of the liaison officer of the UNHCR. However, the liaison officer made a few other points which I would like to raise. In an interview with The Irish Times the officer drew attention to the fact that we took ten persons while Denmark took 500 and Sweden took 1,000. Does that comparison reflect somewhat on our capacity and willingness to receive people?
I understand the liaison officer suggested that where people had to wait between four months and two years for a decision on their application it would be appropriate to allow them take a job. Perhaps the Minister of State will indicate her attitude to this.
The Minister might also comment on the suggestion by the liaison officer of the UNHCR that there was room for improvement in communications – the officer said it was an area "which could do with some attention".
Does the Minister propose making a special contribution to the shortfall of £156 million in the UNHCR's budget?
I see a difference in terms of this category of vulnerable refugees which we have agreed with UNHCR to accept. This category is in addition to programme refugees. For example, we responded very satisfactorily to the Kosovar programme. More than 1,031 Kosovars came to Ireland. Many have since returned while others have remained here and are very happy. This special category of vulnerable persons can grow in accordance with our capacity to deal with them. I stress that the needs of these people are intensive and comprehensive and the range of services they need is considerable. The Refugee Agency, which currently operates under the aegis of my Department, is under severe stress in trying to deal with the Kosovar refugees who are still with us and who need care, and the needs of asylum seekers, with between 700 and 1,000 asylum seekers coming to Ireland every month. They have needs to which the refugee services are trying to respond.
The Government must judge its capacity to respond to the needs of these people in a reasonable and sensible way and that is the reason for the small number in that special category.
Is the Minister of State aware that the liaison officer also gave us details about Zambia, one of the poorest countries in the world, that it receives more in a single day than we do in the entire year? On the question of the scandalous shortfall of funds of $150 million to the UNHCR's office, which has led to the withdrawal of services by that United Nations agency, is the Government disposed to making a special contribution to enable that valuable work to continue, particularly the services in danger in Africa?
I fully agree with the Deputy when he says the poorer developing countries, particularly in Africa, are the main recipients of refugees. They take far more people fleeing persecution and conflict in Africa. Their poor neighbours, such as Zambia, receive far more than the developed world. Developed countries should reflect on that when we are restrictive in our attitude to receiving refugees. The Deputy asked about the shortfall in the UNHCR budget. Ireland is a significant contributor to the UNHCR and it is other countries which need to look at their response to the UNHCR. In every communication we have with the UNHCR it is extremely grateful and expresses its appreciation of the solid support of Ireland. That goes particularly to its funding for emergency programmes in Africa, in particular, and also to its main central funding in New York and elsewhere. We gave special support to the UN High Commissioner Mary Robinson's office which was a unique contribution by Ireland.
