High levels of racism uncovered in EU report

DISCRIMINATION against immigrants is widespread in Ireland and the country is one of the most difficult in Europe for minorities according to a major report.

The Irish Human Rights Commission said it is gravely concerned at the findings of the report, the first of its kind, which was published by the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency.

Three out of four immigrants from Africa feel helpless in the face of abuse and discrimination that they say affects every sphere of their lives, from ordering a coffee in a cafe to having their children educated.

Even immigrants from other EU countries in central and eastern Europe say they suffer from discrimination with 25% saying abuse is widespread in the country, while more than half of them say they do not know of any organisation that could support or help them.

The figures released in Brussels, which the agency says is just a taster of the full report, shows Africans in Ireland among the top 10 worst groups in four out of five important areas.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/snauausnoj/

Ireland not doing enough to support refugees, says UN report

The Irish Government is not doing enough to support those who want to integrate into society here, according to a new report published today by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

Many of those questioned for the report said they feel they are being discriminated against in the Irish jobs market because of their skin colour.

http://www.herald.ie/breaking-news/national-news/ireland-not-doing-enough-to-support-refugees-says-un-report-1718394.html

Problems with rural integration - report

Not enough is being done to integrate foreign nationals into rural communities, according to a new report published today.

The report, Reaching Out, which has been compiled by Irish Rural Link, finds that prejudice about race and identity is a huge problem for people from abroad living in Ireland.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0303/integration.html

Report.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0303/ruralireland.pdf

Ruling allows refugees stay if they face serious harm at home

MANY more refugees afraid to return to their own countries should qualify to remain in Ireland following a ruling from the European Court of Justice which says they need only face serious harm if they return home.

As a result, an applicant does not have to prove he or she is specifically targeted if they return to their home country, but should only have to show that because of the level of violence he or she would be at real risk.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ideyqlojey/

3% decline in asylum applications last year

There was a 3 per cent decline in the number of applications for asylum in the Republic last year, according to new figures released today.

New figures released by the Department for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, indicate that application numbers are at levels not seen since the mid-nineties.

Last year 3,866 people sought asylum, compared to 3,985 in 2007.

The largest share of applicants came from Nigeria (26 per cent), followed by Pakistan (6 per cent), Iraq (5 per cent), China (4.7 per cent), and Georgia (4.7 per cent).

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0105/breaking32.htm

Major concerns raised over asylum seekers leaving infants alone in state-run centres

MAJOR concerns have been raised about asylum seekers leaving infants and young children alone in rooms at state reception centres without any supervision.

The fears are outlined in a series of inspection reports into reception centres, operated on behalf of the Department of Justice by private contractors.

The reports show that the practice of leaving children, some of whom are just a few months old, alone in their room is widespread at the asylum-seeker complexes.

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2008/dec/21/major-concerns-raised-over-asylum-seekers-leaving-/

Irish asylum case exposes major flaw in EU system

A MAJOR flaw in legislation could allow would-be refugees to repeatedly apply for asylum in a succession of different European Union countries.

The loophole, which is of potential benefit to hundreds of asylum seekers, allows a person to be readmitted to the Irish asylum system if they evade what's known as a "transfer order".

Under current arrangements, a person's asylum claim must be heard in the EU country where they first claim asylum. However, a case currently being dealt with by the Department of Justice has exposed a major failing in the legislation, one which could potentially delay the deportation process for years.

The person involved – who is believed to be an African national – arrived in Ireland in April of 2006 and applied for asylum here.

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2008/aug/24/irish-asylum-case-exposes-major-flaw-in-eu-system/

Exposed: The myth of Ireland's liberal asylum policy

NIGERIAN people arriving in Ireland have practically no chance of being granted asylum, according to figures obtained by the Sunday Tribune.

The figures, which also indicate that asylum applications from Chinese people are almost always refused, demolish claims by anti-immigrant groups that Ireland has an open-door immigration policy. Fewer than 20 Nigerian nationals have been recognised as refugees in the past two years, despite more than 1,500 applications, the figures show.

For an individual to be granted asylum in Ireland, they must meet very strict criteria, and their best chance of success appears to come if their country is at war.

Around 44% of Iraqis have been granted asylum over the past two years, making them the most successful nationality in terms of applications.

Sudanese nationals also have a high chance of success, with around 40% of applications accepted by immigration authorities.

Of 215 asylum applications received from would-be refugees from Sudan, 84 were granted, many of them from people fleeing civil war in the Darfur region.

By comparison, Nigerians have a less than 0.01% chance of being granted refugee status in Ireland, no matter what their personal circumstances.

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2008/aug/10/exposed-the-myth-of-irelands-liberal-asylum-policy/

Fingerprint checking helps catch out asylum seekers

Fingerprint checks on a European-wide system have revealed that more than one in 10 asylum seekers in Ireland has already claimed refugee status elsewhere in the EU.

Staff from the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (Orac) have tightened their scrutiny of asylum claims and are looking for tell-tale signs from application forms that the would-be refugees have already tried elsewhere.

This is being backed up by greater use of the Eurodac fingerprinting system.
The authorities here sent 3,840 sets of prints to the Eurodac, according to ORAC's annual report, published yesterday.

The returns confirmed 468 "hits", which meant that, under the Dublin II Regulation, the applications must be determined by the country where the claims were first lodged.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fingerprint-checking-helps-catch-out-asylum-seekers-1419970.html