Members of the Refugee Protection Policy Group would like to see its three policy papers used by State policy-makers when they decide on issues affecting the lives of asylum-seekers and refugees, the chairman of the group said yesterday.
Mr Bill Shipsey SC said Ireland had experienced a rapid growth in the number of people seeking asylum.
Irish society was challenged and inspired to respond in a manner in accordance with its international responsibilities under international law and its humanitarian tradition.
Very often, unfortunately, policy relating to refugees and asylum-seekers appeared to be approached on an ad-hoc basis, he said.
"The Refugee Protection Policy Group was formed to try to assist in informing debate, in ensuring that there was a lively debate and ensuring that in arriving at a policy on issues affecting refugees and asylum-seekers Ireland would try to adopt best practice and standards which are in accordance with our international responsibilities," Mr Shipsey said.
The group was not one of advocacy but aspired to be a think-tank for developing policy. It comprised lawyers and academics who met on a monthly basis.
Of the three policy papers, Mr Shipsey said: "We would certainly like them to be used by our State policy-makers when they decide on issues affecting the lives of the people coming to this country."
Introducing the three papers, Mr Niall Crowley, chief executive of the Equality Authority, said they were important documents and had a practical focus. They were of particular value as there was a very small body of literature on asylum issues in Ireland.
Mr Crowley said that although challenges remained, there was a real cause for optimism in the human-rights climate and the emergence of the employment equality legislation.
There was a dramatically changed context in terms of rights in Irish society.