Asylum-seekers may be sent back to first EU country entered

The Minister for Justice has made regulations to allow asylum-seekers who entered the State through other EU countries to be deported.

The regulations, under the Immigration Act, 1999, give operational effect to Mr O'Donoghue's power to deport asylum-seekers to the country through which they entered the EU. "Other EU countries have agreed to take back these persons and process their asylum claims," a statement from the Minister said last night.

The Minister said he was considering whether to remove a number of persons whose applications for asylum fell under the Dublin Convention, which specifies the country of entry as the place in which to seek asylum. Several hundred letters have been issued to failed asylum-seekers, saying deportation is proposed and that representations may be made to the Minister.

There is a right of appeal under the new order, which restores the previous power of deportation struck down by the courts.

Mechanisms to house asylum-seekers outside Dublin and the introduction of the "direct provision" of food and housing support to people seeking refugee status will be proposed to the Government today by Mr O'Donoghue.

His proposals are understood to be included in a report from the Interdepartmental Committee on Asylum-Seekers and Other Matters. This addresses how local authorities might be persuaded to accommodate more asylum-seekers, as more than 85 per cent are currently housed in Dublin.

In the Eastern Health Board area the 2,600 emergency beds available for asylum-seekers are full.

Yesterday morning staff at the refugee application centre in Dublin were able to secure just seven beds, while more than 100 applicants arrived needing housing.

The EHB has been seeking accommodation in Kilkenny, Cork and Donegal. Local authorities would initially pay for the accommodation and make welfare payments, which would be recouped in full from the Departments of the Environment and Social Welfare. The EHB is said to be looking into whether former seminaries and convents, and the hostels which housed Kosovar refugees, could be used.

The report is also understood to recommend that the Government adopt a similar approach to supporting asylum-seekers as has been employed by the British Home Office. "Direct provision" is to be implemented in Britain next April.

This will see asylum-seekers housed together in purpose-built accommodation and provided with food and clothing vouchers rather than social welfare payments.

It is thought that as Britain clamps down on payments to asylum-seekers, "disincentives" should be introduced here, to prevent the arrival of applicants who might otherwise have gone to Britain.

More than 5,000 applicants have been seen at the centre already this year, up from 4,625 in 1998 and 3,883 in 1997. The monthly figure for October is expected to pass 1,000 for the first time.

The queue of 300 individuals and family groups spilled out onto the street yesterday. Such queues have been a feature for about six weeks now.