EU Migrant Pact risks ‘destitution’
THE new EU Migration and Asylum Pact will lead to “destitution” and risks “overlooking those who are most vulnerable”, an Oireachtas Committee will hear today.
The Justice Committee will be joined by groups representing immigrants and refugees in Ireland as part of an ongoing debate over the arrangement.
Justice Minister Helen
Mcentee said that they will join the bloc-wide agreement which they argue will lead to “fairer” but “more robust” processing.
However, the Irish Refugee Council will tell the Oireachtas Justice Committee Ireland should not sign up as it would “result in deterioration of standards”.
A spokesman will tell the panel: “We believe the reforms contained within the EU Asylum and Migration Pact reflect an effort to limit access to protection for refugees.
“They will result in less safeguards, increased detention and destitution among people seeking protection.
“People arriving from countries with a recognition rate of 20% or less will also be subject to detention.
“They will also be channelled into an accelerated border procedure. This risks overlooking those who are most vulnerable and in need of protection, and whose cases often require legal advice and careful consideration.
“We are concerned limited vulnerability assessments will not be sufficient to identify vulnerable people.
“This, coupled with provision for detention, could have significant consequences for the rights and wellbeing.”
NASC will also raise concerns “procedural guarantees and protections for asylum seekers will be sacrificed for deterrence and creating efficiencies”.
The spokesman will say: “The timeline of 12 weeks imposed by the Asylum Procedures Regulation to complete applications, appeals and removal decisions is challenging and may result in rushed and inadequate assessments.”