Asylum centre talks continue

Talks aimed at resolving a dispute over staffing and services at the "one-stop-shop" for asylum-seekers and refugees in Dublin…

Talks aimed at resolving a dispute over staffing and services at the "one-stop-shop" for asylum-seekers and refugees in Dublin were continuing late last night.

The Labour Relations Commission hosted the talks after unions representing staff at the Refugee Application Centre accused the EHB of failing to honour commitments to ease the strain on their members.

The centre in Mount Street, Dublin, closed temporarily earlier this month amid staff fears that the number of applicants was too great for them to handle safely.

Impact said a new premises, Oisin House in Pearse Street, was "in no way adequate".

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The union's assistant general secretary, Mr Sean McHugh, said his members also wanted all staff appointments agreed since the overcrowding crisis to be permanent rather than temporary.

Last night's talks were attended by Impact and SIPTU as well as the EHB, the Health Services Employers Agency and the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. The talks adjourned at around 11p.m.