THE IRISH REFUGEE COUNCIL has said it is concerned about the government’s plan to offer up to €10,000 to people seeking asylum to give up their claim for international protection.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan is looking to increase the allowance to €2,500 for individuals and up to €10,000 for families if they drop their asylum claims and return home.
An existing allowance of €1,200 for an individual or €2,000 for a couple or family is in place.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe gave the plan his support over the weekend, telling reporters that O’Callaghan’s measure was a way of to deliver on “clear” migration rules.
However, Nick Henderson, chief executive of the Irish Refugee Council, has said his organisation is very concerned by the move.
He told RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland programme that it’s “inappropriate to try and interfere with people’s decision-making” in the asylum process by offering them an enhanced payment to return home.
“We would be very concerned about anything that tries to coax or lure somebody to drop their application for asylum,” Henderson said.
Henderson said there are two parts to the international protection process, where somebody who had a claim receives a decision first from the International Protection Office. If that’s unsuccessful, then they have a right of appeal.
While the government’s payment will not be offered to people currently awaiting the decision on their appeal, Henderson was critical of the impact it would have on a person’s claim for protection.
He said a decision on someone’s claim is there to decide whether or not they are returned to where they fear persecution, and that it’s critical for people to receive those decisions.
