OVERVIEW
Asylum Applications: May (318) and June (316) ‘07 totalled 634 (new: 620; re-applics: 14).
Additional prioritised applications numbered 167; of 193 applications processed, one person was
recognized as a refugee, 160 refused, 8 returned to another EU country and 22 applicants withdrew.
Top countries of origin of applicants, 1 Jan – 30 June 2007: Nigeria: 24%; Iraq: 7%; Georgia: 5%;
DR Congo: 5%; China: 5%. When there is a small number of applicants from a particular country, info on nationality
is not provided - by Dept of Justice, Equality and Law Reform - for security reasons.
Decisions at First Instance: Of some 656 applications for asylum on which decisions were made in May/June’07,
47 applicants were recognised as refugees, 380 refused, 153 withdrew, 74 were returned to have their case
processed in the EU country to which they first arrived.
From June ’07, a new category ‘Additional Cases’ is being included in the monthly statistics -
Cases returned for processing: 24; Decisions withdrawn/reviewed: 15
Appeal Stage: Of 333 substantive/15 day appeals processed (May/June ’07), some 38 were
withdrawn, 40 of those who appealed a negative first instance decision were recognised as refugees
and 255 refused.
Backlog of unprocessed cases at 30 June ’07: 4,135 (First Instance: 1,218; Appeal: 2,917).
Leave to Remain - from 1 Jan to 30 June 2007, 486 people were granted leave to remain.
Removals (Deportations) of 137 orders signed (1 Jan-30 June), 66 were effected.
Top countries of origin of those removed: China; 24; Brazil: 12; Moldovan & Nigeria 8; Ethiopia: 3.
Family Reunification: While 57 new applications (involving 141 dependants) were made in May/June 2007,
some 74 applications (180 dependants) were processed to completion (ie. report sent to Min. Justice).
Applicants’ Nationality for 2007 (up to 30 June): Somalia: 14%; Iraq: 13%; Sudan: 8%; DR Congo: 7%; Nigeria; 7%
(applications must exceed a min. of 10 for nationality to be disclosed).
Separated Children (Unaccompanied Minors) - Of 38 children under 18 years referred to the Health Service
Executive (1 May-30 June ’07), some 5 were referred inappropriately; 16 children were re-united with their families,
17 were placed in care and 3 have gone missing.
Direct Provision: At 22/07/07, 5,404 people seeking asylum were resident in 48 hostels (cap: 6,169) in 19
counties, including 782 in Mosney, 338 in Athlone, 200+ in 6 centres & 100+ in 9 centres.
Self-Catering: 9 Centres (Dublin (6), Ballaghderreen, Dundalk, Mallow). Capacity: 692; Residents:537
Reception Centres: (2) - Dublin (Stillorgan, Balseskin). Capacity: 459; Residents: 334.
(Statistics: Dept of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and HSE Unit for Separated Children)
CHURCH
Global Forum on Migration and Development - Brussels, 9-11 July 2007. In a statement,
Churches make their voices heard, various Church bodies present welcomed the Forum as a space
- to debate the positive impact of migration and as a signal of the end of restrictive migration policies
which have proven to be unrealistic and unworkable
- to further develop a coherent, binding set of international rights of migrants based on the ratification
& implementation of key instruments eg. the UN Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers…
- to highlight the need to look at policy coherence in relation to areas such as trade relations,
agricultural policies and arms exports which impact significantly on migration and development
(http://www.caritas-europa.org/code/en/hp.asp)
Act to Prevent Trafficking(APT) is a faith-based group, linked to the Conference of Religious in Ireland
{CORI} and the Irish Missionary Union {IMU}. APT works against Trafficking in People (TIP) & now has a revised/reprinted
information leaflet. Tel 087 0639783/ 086 2524046/ 085 1344262.
EMBRACE NI - Recent changes in Home Office law and practice necessitated the publication by the Refugee
Action Group in Belfast, of a revised 3rd edition of Forced to Flee: Frequently Asked Questions about Refugees
and Asylum Seekers in Northern Ireland, against a background of disquiet over new arrangements for the removal
and detention in GB of foreign nationals, including some who may be seeking asylum. This guide is aimed at opinion
formers and is being distributed to churches.
Available free: info@embraceni.org EMBRACE Newsletter Number 9, Summer 2007-www.embraceni.org
INTERNATIONAL, EU and NATIONAL ISSUES
United Nations High Commission for Refugees ()UNHCR) reports that the number of refugees around the world
has increased for the first time in five years. In 2006, the number of refugees globally increased by 14% to almost
10 million. If some 4.3 m. Palestinian refugees in the Middle East (under another UN Agency) were to be included,
the total number would be over 14 million. In addition, the number of conflict-related internally displaced people
worldwide is estimated at 24.5 million.
For complete "2006 Global Trends..." report, cf.www.unhcr.org
UNHCR Rome representative , Paolo Artini, told a 3 July ’07 meeting of high-level European Commission/Council
delegates that, in June of this year, 210 migrants lost their lives off the coast of Sicily. Noting that not all
were irregular migrants, he highlighted the implications of increased border control for refugee protection and asked
how people in need of international protection could possibly be identified while they were still on the high seas.
A particular concern is that border control is now being moved outside the EU where European standards of protection,
access to procedures and other human rights of people seeking asylum and of migrants generally are not guaranteed.
cf. ECRAN Update, 29 June; 6 July ’07 - www.ecre.org./topics/intro to topics
Common European Asylum Policy the theme of a Green Paper, published by the European Commission, is
intended to initiate a broad consultation process on the future of European Asylum policies with a view to reaching
a common European Asylum System by 2010.
Responses to: e-mail- JLS-asile-livre-vert@ec.europa.eu by 31 Aug ’07, ahead of public hearing on 18 Oct ’07.
The Refugee and Migrant Project will be responding as part of the Migration Working Group of COMECE – (Commission
of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union)
A Conference on European Slave Trade: Character, Causes, Challenges held at Trinity College, Dublin, 3-5 July ‘07,
and organised by, inter alia, Irish School of Ecumenics and Ireland en Route brought together speakers and participants
from a wide range of disciplines, cultures and countries. Slavery, in its diverse modern-day manifestations and root
causes, nationally and internationally, was explored. Human rights based, victim-centred legislation was emphasised
as the key element in addressing this injustice. In the current Irish legislative context, the trafficked person,
particularly for sexual exploitation, is invisible - redress in forthcoming legislation of this serious lacuna is a priority.
Conference papers available on www. Europeanslavery.com
RESOURCES
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust makes grants to individuals and to projects seeking the creation of a peaceful
world, political equality & social justice. Deadline 2007: 20 Aug. www.jrct.org.uk
Racial Justice Sunday(RJS) – The theme for the ‘07 celebration on 9 Sept is A World on the Move. Six signposts point
the way to different dimensions of global migration which are developed in the RJS Resource Pack. For prayers, songs,
background notes cf. Racial Justice Sunday on www ctbi.org.uk/ccrj
Integration and Embracing Diversity - AkiDwA Conference, Sept 14-15, 2007, Royal Dublin Hotel, D.1. Speakers - former
President of Ireland, Mary Robinson; Min. for Integration, Conor Lenihan. info@akidwa.ie; 01 8148582.
Who’s who? – flyer with core information re who is a person seeking asylum, refugee, migrant.
Available - hard or e-copy: Refugee & Migrant Project, Columba Centre, Maynooth. (contact details above).
MIGRATION PRINCIPLES - Statement for Churches Working on Migration Issues - (Churches Together in Britain
& Ireland/Churches’ Commission for Racial Justice, ‘07; pp 29, £5). The engagement of the Churches in civil society must
be supported by careful theological reflection (Preface).
Available: Methodist Publics., 4, John Wesley Rd, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6Z, UK; sales@mph.org.uk
TO PONDER
The fact that restrictive migration policies contribute to irregular migration should be fully acknowledged.
Under a set of common criteria, regularisation schemes for undocumented migrants should be seen as a means to
improve the situation of individual undocumented migrants. These criteria should take into account the length
of residence, family situation, if the person has a job, if removal is impossible and the potential risks for
the person in her/his country of origin.
‘Towards a Balanced Approach in EU Migration & Asylum Policy’ - Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of EU et al, July ’07
For further info. on items in this newsletter, contact Sr. Joan Roddy, Refugee & Migrant Project Director
SANCTUARY can now be accessed at www. catholiccommunications.ie/sanctuary
ends
July 2007
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