The Irish Refugee Council
The Irish Refugee Council (IRC) is Ireland’s only national non-governmental organisation which specialises in working with and for refugees in Ireland.
The main focus of our work is with people in the asylum system who are applying to be recognised as refugees. For almost 20 years, we have observed the changes that have been made in response to the arrival of refugees in Ireland. Based on extensive experience working directly with those affected, we have seen the huge financial cost of a failed system and the untold damage that has and is being done to men, women and children in the asylum process.
The IRC is committed to promoting an asylum system that will be beneficial for refugees, the decision-maker, and the tax payer.
Year(s): 1992 - Present
Target group(s): Refugees
Website: www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie
Methodology
Drop-in Centre The Irish Refugee Council offers a free and confidential Drop-In Centre for those who need help or guidance about the asylum process or who have been through it. The service operates separately to the Irish Refugee Council Independent Law Centre and as such does not provide legal advice. Law Centre The primary aims of the Law Centre are to meet unmet legal need in a strategic manner and to promote and deliver early legal advice and representation to those in the early stages of the asylum process. Children and Young People The IRC works to promote best practices for the protection of the rights of children and young people, including separated children, at a national level through awareness raising, policy development, networking and advocacy.Type of product
Early legal advice In response to a clearly identified unmet legal need, a significant number of our cases will involve providing advice to asylum seekers in the early stage of the asylum process, in advance of their interview with the International Protection Office (previously known as ORAC). Applicants who wish to access these services will be able to do so through an outreach clinic and by appointment. For capacity reasons, and to ensure the quality of our services, we will be able to offer this service to a maximum of approximately 100 clients per year. Policy Work & Capacity Building Arising out of our work with individual clients, we will seek to identify issues which affect asylum seekers and refugees. We also hope to support voluntary organisations and practitioners working on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers.Brief description of the product / outcome / method
The IRC’s priorities are delivering high quality support and advice to people in the asylum process; supporting and protecting children and young people; public and political awareness raising; and capacity building among key players in the asylum system in order to bring about change to practice and policy.Impact on target groups / Transferability potential
The Irish Refugee Council believes, in accordance with the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees, that every person has the right to claim asylum and to have their application considered in a fair and transparent manner. The Irish Refugee Council’s mission is to promote and enhance the lives of refugees in Ireland. We are work to achieve this through producing policy, raising awareness and campaigning for a fairer, more transparent asylum system. A Model Asylum System: •A single protection procedure •Clear, good quality and transparent decision-making •Humane reception conditions, including the right to work •Care for separated children on a par with that offered to Irish children in care •Special consideration for the needs of vulnerable individuals and groups •Effective remediesPromoter of the initiative
Name of organization / individual: The Irish Refugee Council
Country: Ireland
Website: www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie
Contacts: 37 Dame Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Email: info@irishrefugeecouncil.ie Phone: 00 353 1 764 5854 Fax: 00 353 1 672 5927