Talks on refugee centre staffing dispute continue

Protracted negotiations aimed at resolving a dispute over staffing and services at the State's "one-stop-shop" for immigrants…

Protracted negotiations aimed at resolving a dispute over staffing and services at the State's "one-stop-shop" for immigrants were continuing last night.

Unions and management at the Refugee Application Centre in Dublin yesterday entered the third day of talks, hosted by the Labour Relations Commission.

The centre in Lower Mount Street, which is managed by the Eastern Health Board, was closed temporarily earlier this month amid staff fears that the number of applicants was too great to handle safely.

The crisis was followed by remarks by the Progressive Democrats' Minister of State, Ms Liz O'Donnell, that the Government's immigration policy was a "shambles".

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Unions representing the centre's community welfare officers had sought additional permanent staff and extra premises to deal with the overspill of applicants.

An apparent agreement on these issues later broke down, with unions accusing the board of failing to honour commitments made in talks.

The board's proposal of premises in Pearse Street as a back-up to the Mount Street centre was rejected by unions as unsuitable.

Last night's talks were attended by representatives from IMPACT and SIPTU as well as officials from the Health Service Employers Agency, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs and the Eastern Health Board.

A Dail committee is to begin a series of hearings next month to investigate the situation of asylum-seekers who have arrived in Ireland.

The Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights will request the Department of Justice, the Eastern Health Board, the Refugee Agency and other bodies with an interest in the issue to give evidence.

The first of several hearings on the matter is likely to take place next month, according to the committee chairman, Mr Eoin Ryan TD.