Comment
Bookmark, Email, Print or ShareAsylum seekers protest in Tramore over ‘limbo’
Members of the Tramore Asylum Seekers Support Network march through Tramore on Tuesday in protest over the long delays before their applications are processed. | Photo: Gavin Downey
A protest took place on Tuesday in Tramore concerning the slow process affecting asylum seekers in Ireland and their legal status.
The 20-plus marchers went from the Church to the Branch Road car park. Many are extremely frustrated at the multi-year process, in many cases, before an applicant is accepted or rejected. In the meantime, they remain in a limbo-like situation.
People are being deported en masse while children must seek asylum, even if they were born in this country.
In a statement received from Elie Ciaba from the Congo, who organised the march in Tramore, he outlined the case and claims that children who are turned downed thus become stateless.
“While it is well known that adults are not given a chance to go to school and to work, it is quite unreasonable that this unfairness be extended to innocent children who, if given a chance, would have a lot to give back to Ireland.
“It is worth noting that there are some kids with Irish citizenship living with their parents in hostels. Some of them speak the Irish language. The Direct provision system, especially when enforced to someone for too long, slowly but gradually destroys the person’s ability physically and mentally, thus rendering some disabled.
“People of different nationalities with varied religious, cultural and linguistic backgrounds are kept together for more than 5 years, sometimes sharing a single room. These same people are more than willing to work and pay tax, they are willing to go to school in order to be more productive in the Irish economy if given the chance.
“There are doctors, lawyers, clergymen, politicians, loving parents, talented artists, disabled people, bright and adorable but hopeless children all camped together for years.”
Mr Ciaba added: “We are not criminals, respect of the law is our obligation and though it is always hard to forgive criminals in a court of law, some of these criminals have actually been incriminated by the restrictions imposed on them. All we ask for is fairness, as we pray that where ever any human is in this beautiful world, be they of Irish, Chinese, African, Afghan or American origin, no matter where, they get a chance to contribute positively for the betterment of the community like St Patrick did for Ireland.”
Mr Ciaba, who is in Ireland with his family, concluded: “Asylum seekers all over Ireland are in the same situation and we must stand peacefully together in this basic human rights struggle, in order to give our selves and our children a chance to build this beautiful country. We call on St Patrick to plead with God on our behalf as we undertake this journey.”
For full story see The Munster Express newspaper or
subscribe to our Electronic edition.
subscribe to our Electronic edition.
September 4th, 2010 at 12:43 am
What is wrong with these people, there are no jobs to be had, and the little that are there neeed to be given to the Irish, or has everyone forgotten this is Ireland. Every other EU country are prioritising the availabale jobs for their own. In my opinion the so called ‘do-gooders’ in this country are given far too much of their own way, it is simply outrages. As a democracy we were never given a vote to take in all these non -EU asylum seekers, the Government have alot to answer to. These people should no longer be in this country we cannot afford to keep them here. In France they were given 6 months dole money and sent back to where ever it is that they are from, we should do the same as it is cheaper in the long run this point was also raised by Leo Veradkir some months back too. Is it not enough for thesepeople that we areoffering them asylum do they want to take over too. Why should our own be on the dole lines and have to watch these people who are not even EU citizens working. When we voted on the issue of bringing the Eastern block countries into the EU it didn’t mean taht we open the flood gates in Ireland too , to let everyone and anybody in. I for one would have no time for these people , it is as simple as this consider your good fortune as you are here, if you don’t like it then ‘go home!’ Is anyone else with me on this or have you all been blinded by the do-gooders? Just to clarify , I have no problem with the EU members folk being here.
September 6th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Many of these people should remember that they entered the country illegally, knowingly.
In current economic crisis it’s obvious Government needs to protect it’s citizenry, and allowing low wage immigrants in will mean more Irish citizens remaining on dole.
One assumes the immigrants who are working are already costing taxpayer dear, despite fact they won’t have paid any Income Tax, as they can’t legally work.
If they’re so disenchanted go home, and apply for a Visa; if granted they can then enter legally.
September 10th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
IRISH PEOPLE SHOULDN’T ` FORGET THAT THEY WENT TO OTHER COUNTRIES TO SEEK JOB(SURVIVE)BEFORE CELTIC TIGER ECONOMY.
IRISH PEOPLE TRAVELED TO UK,USA,CANADA,ETC.
September 10th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
OH , I FORGOT TO SAY THIS :
I WAS WATCHING A DOCUMENTARY ON SKY ABOUT IRISH PEOPLE THOSE WHO TRAVELLED TO USA AND I JUST SAW THIS :
” NO DOG , NO BLACK ,NO IRISH”
SO TONY AND GERALD HOW DO YOU FEEL ?
September 10th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
ok,
if irish people can’t work in other countries then why should we allow it to happen here.
industries will pay low wage to immigrants because it saves them.
like gerald said if they want to work leave and come back legally.
for me i am fed up of immigrants getting jobs in this country the goverment must first look after it’s own people before dealing with anyone else.
September 10th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
I completely agree with Faeed on this. A country does not have responsibility to it’s citizens alone, but also those resident in the country through no fault of their own – i.e. asylum seekers. Anybody who has had to emmigrate as a result of economic hardship/unemployment in Ireland is, in effect, an economic asylum seeker in my mind. Ireland’s best export is our people so to be bigotted towards people who have been displaced as a result of violence or other misfortune (economics is not a valid reason to qualify for asylum) disgusts me. In most cases, these folk have left loved ones behind, are penniless and have families to feed. As Irish people it disappoints me that the attitude is often “It’s not our problem” given our own experiences in the past.
September 11th, 2010 at 12:55 am
Ronan your comments and Faeed (obviously aan asylum seeker) your comments annoy and disgust me. First off the irish went abroad too, but these are now very different times and it has been reported that some of the natives of the countries that the Irish have imigrated to have treated the irish imigrants with a certain hostility, and quite honestly I can hardly blame them either , as the irish too are taking their jobs. But let me just point out there is a huge difference between imigrants and asylum seekers. Ronan this country is on its knees because of asylum seekers and do gooders like you. Regardless of whether it is right or wrong the fact still remains , as a country we cannot afford to havethese people here, the jobs in this country need to be kept for Irish now and that is what it boils down to, if you want to know and defend these foreign non EU asylum saakers than maybe you should move to where ever it is that they are from. And furthermore ‘ It is not our problem, because our diminished economy and people can not afford for it to be our problem.
September 11th, 2010 at 1:08 am
If it comes to a vote to allow you people to work or not, i think you know yourself what the outcome would be. this here is a democracy and the majority will determine what will be, not me alone.
September 11th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Thank you Ronan for your thought way.
September 13th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Its nice to know how much we have in common with our visitors. Throughout history, the Irish abroad have suffered at the hands of their host nations while we have also prospered and become powerful. Whatever you think about asylum seekers, it is ironic we can all probably attest to being victims of the ineptitude, passive aggression and self serving nature of the Irish Government and its respective ‘public service’ departments. While I agree that the responsibilities for people coming to our country should not be overlooked, the memory and sacrafice of all who have died for Ireland and our hard won ‘freedom’ has been completely and utterly debased by our greedy politicians and inward looking trade unions alike. Many an Irish person has sought refuge abroad from persecution which was directly and indirectly inflicted by a corrupt Catholic Church and I can tell you from first hand experience that today many of those people are still living lonely lives in bedsits in London with only alcohol as company to wish away their time. I’m not really sure about the lads looking for asylum etc and some of them maybe need to appreciate what they have in Ireland and other countries a bit more, but what I am wholly certain about is that it is way down my list of priorities to pick on an easy target when so many of our own Irish people have been behaving like parasitic greed merchants. You know who you are…or maybe not!
September 14th, 2010 at 4:21 am
Totally agree with Faaed and Ronan, as Irish people who historically were treated like animals in foreign countries, we should be offering our country with out-stretched arms.
Many people treat foreigners terribly and have little or no tolerance, this in general is wrong but as Irish people it is absolutely shameful.
September 14th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
I would like to respond to Tony’s last comment. Firstly, Tony, your comments are not just directed at asylum seekers but all foreigners working in this country. When times were good and there was plenty of jobs, Polish and Romanian workers were working in hotels and restaurants, cleaning toilets and washing dishes, jobs that many Irish people were too proud to do. There was a high number of people on unemployment benefit at this time.A lot of employers were taking on foreign workers and paying them below the minimum wage on unrecorded tax. So maybe you should blame those who contributed to the enlargement of black economy. Des Bishop made a joke to an audience in Cork. He said that people were going to collect their UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT WHILE STILL WEARING THEIR PAINT COVERED OVERALLS! They were going to collect job-seekers allowance during their lunch-break! Therefore blaming foreign workers is not the solution to a problem that is far more complex than your extremely simplistic analysis suggests.
As a member of the E.U you are required to accept workers from other E.U member states. If you have a problem with this you should remember that if were not for E.U grants for infrastructure and agriculture this country would be like something from the third world. Tony do you ever switch on the news at 6 O’clock? If you did you might realize that foreign workers are not responsible for the economic problems that this country has. The collapse of the construction industry due to irresponsible banking and a lack of government financial control as well as a global economic crisis were the main factors contributing to the recession.
September 14th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Dear Tony.
It appears that you do not know anything about asylum seekers are the asylum process. If you did you would realize that asylum seekers are not allowed to work. So we are in no way a threat to your ‘Irish jobs’ for ‘Irish people’. Tony in your comments you emphasized ‘democracy’ several times . It is a marvelous thing that Ireland is a democracy and that someone like you is not in charge. Perhaps you think that asylum seekers are living 5 star hotels. On behalf of asylum seekers in Tramore, as I am the spokesperson of Tramore Asylum Seekers Support Network (TRASNET), I invite you to visit any of the direct provision centers. You will find out that the opposite is true.
September 17th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
TOPIC CLOSED