Minister Announces increase in Refugee Resettlement Quota

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell T.D., today announced that he has received Government approval for the increase of the State's refugee resettlement quota from 10 cases (around 40 persons) to 200 persons per annum. The refugees will be admitted to the State under arrangements to be finalised between the Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Since 1998, Ireland is one of a small number of resettlement countries which takes an annual quota of refugees from abroad under arrangements agreed with the UNHCR.  Many of these refugees would be residing in refugee camps often in very difficult circumstances. At the present time, there are over 9 million such refugees under the care of the UNHCR.

The Minister also received Government approval for the establishment of an inter-Departmental Working Group on Refugee Resettlement and Integration which will oversee the implementation of the increased resettlement programme. The Working Group will work closely with both the Reception and Integration Agency (which will chair the Group) and the proposed Immigrant Integration Unit to be set up in the context of the establishment of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) announced recently by the Minister.

Announcing the decision today, Minister McDowell stated that "When I piloted the Immigration Act, 2003, which streamlined the asylum determination process, through the Houses of the Oireachtas, I suggested that there should be a more targeted response by the State to protection issues. This would enable more of our resources to be devoted to assisting additional refugees under the care of the UNHCR to come to the State for resettlement purposes and to make a valuable contribution to Ireland's developing multicultural society.

Resettlement is an important part of our overall policy for refugees, many of whom are living in very difficult conditions in refugee camps abroad, and cannot return in safety to their countries of origin.  In announcing this increased resettlement programme today in the run up to World Refugee Day on 20th June, I am happy to be able to put in place arrangements which will allow the State to better target those most vulnerable and in need of protection and to make more effective use of resources in the protection area.

Ireland also continues to be committed to provide protection to persons who are found to be refugees following consideration of their applications in our enhanced domestic asylum determination process."

The logistical arrangements for the increased resettlement quota will be finalised over the coming weeks in consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

8 June 2005.