Minister says he will not be deflected by criticism as rift over asylum deepens

The rift between Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats over asylum policy deepened last night as the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, vowed that he would not be deflected by criticism from the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell.

Responding to Ms O'Donnell's description of the State's treatment of asylum-seekers as "a shambles", Mr O'Donoghue insisted he would continue to operate the law as it stood, in accordance with Government policy. The Minister said through a spokesman: "I won't be deflected in my efforts to deal with the issue by these comments."

The PD leader, Ms Harney, held back from criticism of Mr O'Donoghue, but said it was not acceptable that asylum-seekers were waiting for as long as five years without their applications being determined.

Labour's deputy leader, Mr Brendan Howlin, agreed with Ms O'Donnell's remarks and said they were a "damning indictment" of the lethargy of the Taoiseach and Mr O'Donoghue.

Ms O'Donnell said yesterday she was appalled at the pictures of long queues of asylum-seekers outside the Department of Justice refugee applications centre in Dublin during the week. The Department's policies were "unplanned, unregulated and unsuccessful".

In a reference to Mr O'Donoghue's repeated emphasis on "cracking down" on asylum-seekers, she said the problem was that the Government was presenting the situation only as a difficulty. "Dealing with the issue as a problem only feeds into public resentment, particularly in less well-off communities."

Ms O'Donnell accused the Department of Justice of being "territorial" in terms of driving Government policy on asylum issues.

"Yet something is seriously wrong when all we get is an ad hoc policy instead of a comprehensive approach taking in all aspects of the issue."

She acknowledged there was an "undesirable" level of illegal immigration, but suggested the Department of Justice was not even dealing with this. Many people were coming in through the North, as the Border had been left open since the peace process.

"I believe the `pull' factor attracting people to Ireland is mal-administration, not the availability of welfare benefits," Ms O'Donnell said.

Earlier this year Ms O'Donnell differed sharply with Mr O'Donoghue on the issue of allowing asylum-seekers to work. That disagreement was solved by a Cabinet compromise allowing some asylum-seekers who arrived here before last July the right to work.

However, the Minister for Justice and his officials have blamed the recent rise in the numbers applying for asylum on this deal which, they say, encouraged more immigrants to come.

Ms Harney told RTE news that the long delays at the Department's refugee applications centre had clearly caused problems. The sheer numbers of people coming here required appropriate procedures.

A spokeswoman for the Eastern Health Board, which provides accommodation and social welfare services at the Department's refugee centre, said it would be "business as normal" there today. Both first-time applicants for asylum and repeat callers seeking assistance with other queries would be dealt with.

A fortnight ago Ms O'Donnell caused friction with Fianna Fail when she was the first Government TD to call on Mr John Ellis to step down as chairman of the Dail Committee on Agriculture. Mr Howlin described her yesterday as "the semi-detached member of Government, more than ever".