The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has, last week, written to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, asking her to clarify why she announced a temporary pause on the issuing of final decisions on International Protection (‘IP’) for people from Syria seeking refugee status here. The Commission said that while the Assad regime has collapsed, the situation in Syria is far from stable. Significant concerns have been raised by International bodies and organisations working on the ground in Syria in relation to the record of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (‘HTS’), and HTS is but one of a number of militias who control different parts of Syria. IP applicants from Syria remain entitled to a decision on their status with due expedition. In addition, the Commission would be most concerned if general, or blanket, decisions are taken in relation to IP applications from Syrian nationals, who have a legal entitlement to an individual decision on their application. In our correspondence, the Commission asked that the Minister:
- Provide more clarity on the nature of any proposed ‘pause’ and its expected duration;
- Indicate the legal basis for the introduction of this ‘pause’;
- Beyond the delay in receiving a final determination, clarify the practical implications (if any) for Syrian IP applicants already in the system, and also those who present seeking asylum after 10 December 2024; and
- Describe the likely possible outcomes of such a ‘pause’ from the Minister’s perspective.
We are aware that there is currently uncertainty and confusion within the Syrian community, so we would call on the Minister to set out what steps her Department is taking to communicate with international protection applicants about any proposed change to the process. Liam Herrick, Chief Commissioner said:
“In a time of high conflict and rapidly shifting circumstances, when Syria remains unsafe and unstable, IHREC does not believe there is any justification for pausing the process of asylum and that protecting victims who have fled war and persecution must remain the State’s priority. We would welcome clarification from the Minister on the legal basis for this temporary pause in processing applications for this group of people. The Irish Government must ensure that its decisions on Syrians seeking refuge comply with EU and international law at all times. We are particularly concerned that any pause in the appropriate consideration of claims for international protection may have significant and irreversible impacts on the rights of refugees and their families.”
ENDS/ https://www.ihrec.ie/documents/letter-to-the-minister-of-justice-on-the-pause-in-syrian-international-protection-determination/ For further information, please contact: Sarah Clarkin, IHREC Communications Manager, 01 8592641 / 087 4687760 sarah.clarkin@ihrec.ie Follow us on twitter @_IHREC Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is an independent public body, appointed by the President and directly accountable to the Oireachtas. The Commission has a statutory remit set out under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act (2014) to protect and promote human rights and equality in Ireland, and build a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding in the State. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is Ireland’s national human rights institution and is recognised as such by the United Nations. The Commission is also Ireland’s national equality body for the purpose of a range of EU anti-discrimination measures.