Conference to focus on child asylum seekers

The Minister of State for Children, Ms Mary Hanafin, today convenedan international conference on unaccompanied minors in the asylum process.

The Government places a high priority on maintaining anasylum process which is both fair and transparent Ms Mary Hanafin

The conference is part of the EU’s Children First Project which aimsto improve reception procedures for unaccompanied minor asylum-seekers among member-states.

Ms Hanafin said: "Irish involvement in this Project is timely as thenumber of applications from unaccompanied minors has increasedsignificantly over the past two years from 34 applications in 1999 to300 in 2000 and 154 as of April last."

She said: "The Government places a high priority on maintaining anasylum process which is both fair and transparent."

Ireland is participating in the project along with Finland, Polandand Lithunia. The intention is to circulate the outcome of theProject to all member-states for use as a guide for future action inthis area.