Sir, - In a report headed "Council for refugees may close for lack of funding" (November 9th), Paul Cullen stated: "More than a year ago, the council stopped providing legal advice to asylum seekers, though it still provides documentation services."
The Irish Refugee Council's legal representation project funded by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform ceased in September of 1997. Since then, a new legal unit, funded primarily by FAS and more recently partially funded by UNHCR, has been put in place. It is composed of two full-time and two part-time legal officers.
The Irish Refugee Council legal unit is currently the only service providing free legal advice to asylum seekers in the State. The legal unit provides legal advice, information and written representations to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for asylum seekers at all stages of the procedure. The legal unit also acts in emergency cases such as detention and deportation to protect and preserve the rights of asylum seekers and refugees.
The legal unit runs a research and documentation service with four part-time staff. The research section offers research assistance on country of origin issues to legal practitioners in the area. In addition it issues policy recommendations on asylum issues. The Irish Refugee Council legal unit facilitates various training workshops, seminars and conferences on asylum law and surrounding issues to human rights organisations, legal practitioners and academics.
Given the current lack of legal representation for asylum seekers in the State, the work of the Irish Refugee Council legal unit remains essential to the protection of the rights of asylum seekers and refugees throughout the asylum process. - Yours, etc., Derek Stewart,
Chairperson,
Irish Refugee Council,
Arran Quay,
Dublin 7.