Gilmore calls for increase in allowance for asylum seekers

Ireland's policy on asylum seekers compares "with the best in the world" Taoiseach Bertie Ahern insisted as he was accused of being "Scrooge-like" over the failure to increase the direct provision allowance since its introduction in 1999.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said about 6,000 asylum seekers are in direct provision where the State pays for their board and lodging and provides a weekly allowance, which Mr Gilmore said should be increased from €19.10 for adults and €9.60 for children. The rate had "stalled" at its introductory level eight years ago and should be increased in line with the movement in incomes since then.

"It's not a great bounty and you won't go wild on it," he said, adding that he did not have to remind the Taoiseach of the number of times that he "and the rest of us have seen increases in our salaries since 1999".

Mr Ahern said however "I do not believe there will be an increase, to be frank". He said the allowance had not increased but the cost to the State in providing modern accommodation and facilities "has been enormous".

Insisting that Ireland's asylum system "compares with the best in the world in its fairness, its decision making, its support services for asylum seekers", he said there was a dramatic increase in the number of asylum applications between 1998 and 2002.

It was now declining with 4,500 applications last year, the lowest number in recent years.

Mr Ahern said it was "not an open door system. We treat asylum seekers in a very fair way in this country," and the direct provision system "is very good".

Describing the Taoiseach's response as "Scrooge-like" the Labour leader said the cost to the State of running the Taoiseach's department "has also risen quite considerably since 1999, but it would hardly justify the Taoiseach being paid the same salary as he was paid then".

He added that "some of the cost to the State associated with the asylum process was not very prudent expenditure", such as hotels bought but never used. Mr Gilmore said he was not dealing with the fairness of the system. "These people have no political clout as they do not have a vote," he said.