The UNHCR has called on all political parties to prioritise the introduction of a single procedure for the asylum procedure. They note that in all other EU member states, refugee status is determined at the same time as subsidiary protection. Subsidiary protection is a form of protection which applies to persons who face persecution in the form of generalised or indiscriminate violence, not specific to race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular group or particular political opinion.
In Ireland, subsidiary protection cannot be applied for until refugee status has been refused and a deportation letter received. This leads to a lengthy waiting time for asylum seekers in the asylum process at substantial cost to the state.
Head of UNHCR Sophie Magennis affirmed "To ensure that all people have access to a comprehensive protection determination system and to address a principal reason for long stays in direct provision and the burden this places on individuals and the State, UNHCR recommends that single procedure legislation be adopted as a matter of urgency".
Please click here to view the UNHCR press release.
Meanwhile Ms Justice Catherine McGuinness, President of the Law Reform Commission and former Supreme Court judge, has called for an independent appeals system for refugee and immigration cases. Please click here to view the Irish Times article.