I refer the Deputy to my replies to Parliamentary Question No. 501 of 1 July and Question No. 302 of 12 February. They clearly set out the rationale behind the policy of not allowing asylum applicants to take up paid employment pending a decision on their applications.
There are a number of reasons present policy should not be changed: it would not be possible under present legislation; have a major negative impact on the Government's asylum strategy; it would be a major pull factor leading to a large increase in asylum applications – as happened when the Government, as an exceptional measure, decided in 1999 to allow certain asylum applicants to enter into employment; it would undermine the present legitimate entry process for immigration and employment – some 36,225 work permits have been issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment so far this year as at 30 September; it would have potential implications for trafficking; and it would have a negative impact on our ability to accommodate asylum applicants and to provide them with decent levels of State services.
Furthermore, the Government has recently introduced extensive amendments to the Refugee Act 1996 which will provide a more comprehensive framework for the fair and expeditious processing of asylum applications. These amendments are based on the experience of operating the Refugee Act gained over the past few years and, in particular, in dealing with the high level of unfounded and abusive applications for asylum and the high number of no shows at interviews which are tying up large amounts of resources which could be better used to provide support to genuine refugees.
I am convinced that allowing asylum applicants to take up paid employment would greatly undermine the effectiveness of these amendments. To date the Government's general asylum strategy has given rise to greater efficiencies in the State's asylum processing system and a significant reduction in the timescale for processing asylum applications.
I have no plans to abolish the system of direct provision which meets the day-to-day needs of asylum seekers.
