Ireland to send more immigration experts to Greece

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has announced that Ireland will provide assistance to Greek asylum authorities in implementing the controversial EU-Turkey migration deal.

Ireland will send international protection case work experts from the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) and the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) to the Greek islands.

The State will also offer the services of two members of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal to support the establishment of Appeals Committees.

The assistance is being co-ordinated by the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and expands on the team of four Irish experts sent earlier this year to Greece and Italy to support the relocation of asylum seekers under the EU Relocation Programme.

Ms Fitzgerald said: “It is important that Ireland continues to play its part in the EU effort in tackling the refugee and migration crisis and I am pleased that, in spite of the pressure on our reduced staff resources, we are able to make a further and meaningful contribution.”

She added: “This is an EU crisis and requires an EU response. There are major challenges but these will be even greater if we don’t work together”

A spokesperson for Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, told Irish Legal News: “We are pleased that the Minister has reiterated that the Irish government is willing to play its part in tackling the humanitarian crisis.

“However, Irish protection personnel would be better put towards identifying refugees and asylum seekers for resettlement and relocation, rather than contributing to an effort which has been widely condemned by international aid and human rights agencies - most significantly the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

“To date we have taken in very few of the number we committed to under the Relocation and Resettlement Programme - Irish resources should be focused on those efforts. The emphasis must be put on ensuring people’s safety, dignity and ability to access to their fundamental right to protection, rather than on controlling borders and refusing access.”