Fine Gael leadership supports campaign for young asylum seekers

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and justice spokesman Jim O'Keefe have given their backing to the PLUS campaign to let young asylum seekers stay in Ireland.

The campaign was launched five years ago by young people who sought asylum in Ireland as unaccompanied minors and whose applications for asylum were rejected, leaving them now facing deportation.

Some of the group were orphaned; many lost contact with their families when they left their home countries, mostly in Africa. When they arrived in Ireland they were placed in the care of the health boards and given places in schools. Many have since done their Leaving Certificate and have qualifications that would enable them to attend third level or find paid work. However, their asylum status prevents them doing so.

There are around 200 young people in this situation in Ireland. "There's a finite number; it's not a case of opening the floodgates," said Jim O'Keefe. The group is asking to be given permission to stay in Ireland, if necessary for a determined period (such as three years) – that would enable them to settle and prove their ability to contribute to the Irish economy and society.

O'Keefe called for this group to be given "special consideration". Many of them have been in Ireland for a number of years while their asylum case was processed, and have been threatened with deportation only since turning 18. Time delays in the system, according to O'Keefe, meant that "it becomes more and more ridiculous to even considering deporting them".

Members of the PLUS (Please Let Us Stay) campaign met with with a cross-party group of TDs, which included Progressive Democrat Fiona O'Malley, at the Dáil on 5 October. The TDs sent a letter to Minister for Justice Michael McDowell advocating the campaign's case. A spokesman for the Minister said he would shortly be addressing the issue in the Dáil.

colin murphy