Complaints over leaflet ban in asylum centres

FIONA GARTLAND

POLITICAL DOCUMENTATION: THE STANDARDS in Public Office Commission is to examine a circular issued by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), part of the Department of Justice,which banned party political leaflets, posters and circulars from asylum centres in advance of today’s election.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Integrating Ireland both complained to the commission after the circular came to light, saying the ban interfered with democratic rights. A complaint has also been made to ambassador Janez Lenarcic, director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

The circular prohibits leaflets such as those received in households throughout the country prior to elections from being circulated in asylum centres. Asylum seekers have a right to vote in local elections and leaflets specifically addressed to individual voters in the centres have not been banned.

The circular stated it had come to the attention of the RIA leaflets related to “political stances being taken in relation to various issues in the asylum/immigration area” had been sent to centres. These were not to be given out because accommodation centres had to be politically neutral. “To maintain the politically neutral environment in asylum centres under contract to RIA, centre managers must ensure that party political leaflets, posters or circulars are not displayed or circulated,” the circular said.

Aki Stavrou, director of Integrating Ireland, said he was shocked to find the RIA had been operating a policy “which appears designed to stifle political debate and access to information”.