Press Releases07 Dec 04

Open letter on human rights to the Minister for Justice from the Glenstal conference

OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTER FOR JUSTICE FROM THE GLENSTAL CONFERENCE

GLENSTAL ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE
Glenstal Abbey, Murroe, Co. Limerick, Ireland

The Minister for Justice,
Dail Eireann,
Dublin 2

Dear Minister,

We write on behalf of the participants in the Glenstal Ecumenical Conference 2004 to bring to your attention a number of serious concerns that have been expressed in relation to the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in this country. This is the first time in 41 years that the Conference has seen fit to make any public pronouncement. There was an overwhelming groundswell of opinion that we as Christians of many denominations should make our views known to you.

The concerns are centred on three main areas:-

1. The inordinate length of time taken to process applications for refugee status

It is a matter of record that applications for refugee status take two, three or even four years to process. This, together with processing procedures incomprehensible to all but fluent English speakers with legal knowledge, casts doubt in many minds on the standards of justice that this country claims to uphold.

2. The criminalisation of paid work during the application process

If one of the intentions behind this legislation is to make Ireland a less attractive proposition for asylum seekers, it does not appear to have been particularly successful. It has, however, been successful in other ways.
* It has effectively declared all asylum seekers to have nothing to contribute to the social and economic wellbeing of this country while they are here. They are no more than a nuisance, are often seen as jumping the local authority housing queue, and a serious drain on the public purse. This exposes them to the risk of suffering at the hands of increasing racism in Ireland.
* It has also given succour to the belief that all of those who come to Ireland for shelter are not to be trusted.
* It has led to the growth of another form of criminal activity: the cynical employment and exploitation of cheap labour.

Against the background of the many thousands, even millions, of Irish people who were forced to emigrate over the years, such legislation is simply unworthy of us and should be repealed.

3. The failure of the Department of Justice to ensure the safety of unsuccessful applicants who are deported and forcefully returned to the countries from which they have fled.

Despite public assurances that all necessary steps are taken to ensure that those who are compelled to leave Ireland are not at risk from their own authorities at home, there is growing, substantiated evidence that unfortunately such assurances frequently have little if any foundation. Not only adults but even children arc being imprisoned immediately on their return, and left to their fate.

As a matter of urgency, of justice, and above all of ordinary humanity, we respectfully ask you to address these concerns and to take whatever action is necessary to alleviate the problems we have outlined.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher Dillon, O.S.B., Abbot of Glenstal

William Walsh, Bishop of Killaloe

Michael Mayes, Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe

The Glenstal Ecumenical Conference is one of the major, and one of the oldest, of the ecumenical endeavours in Ireland. Participants represent all of the major Christian denominations as well as the smaller, newer Christian congregations in Ireland