Sharp rise in number of refugee seeking asylum

THE number of refugees seeking asylum in Ireland in the past two years has increased by 400 per cent from 91 in 1993 to 424 last year.

Mr Michael Mulcahy (FF) told the Seanad during the committeestage of the Refugee Bill that the numbers were still growing.

Germany was talking about burden sharing. "Ireland will have to take a percentage of the hundreds of thousands who seek asylum in Germany," he said.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Joan Burton said that Ireland was taking its share of refugees from the former Yugoslavia and Bosnia and would continue to do so.

There were a large number of other people also coming in at the moment. "We are taking our share of the burden in consultation with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees."

The Refugee Bill gives effect to international conventions on the status and treatment of refugees, allowing for a refugee appeal board and for the appointment of a refugee applications commissioner.

Representatives of refugee agencies, including the UNHCR, observed the day long debate, during which there were a number of protracted arguments about amendments to the Bill.

One such amendment was pressed to a vote after a heated hour long debate. Senator Mulcahy, supported by a number of independent senators, urged the Minister to amend the Bill so that the Minister would have discretion to allow asylum seekers work in the State while their applications were being considered.

The Bill states that an asylum seeker cannot look for work or "carry on any business, trade or profession" before a decision is taken on their application.

Ms Burton rejected this on the grounds that it could lead to unscrupulous exploitation of asylum seekers as cheap labour and there was some concern already about this.

Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind) described the Fianna Fail amendment as eminently reasonable", and said it would give the person a sense of dignity. Professor Joe Lee (Ind) said the amendment supported a degree of flexibility.

After some debate, the Ministers said she would go back to the draughtsman and would also consult the Minister for Enterprise and Employment.

She could not, however, give the senators a guarantee that an amendment would be introduced at the report stage. The amendment was pushed to vote but was defeated by 18 votes to 17.