Asylum and immigration

The Ombudsman for Children submitted her advice on the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008 to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights on 20 March 2008. In her advice, she noted that while there were some positive aspects of the Bill, it did not sufficiently take account of the particular vulnerability of children and of the need to provide them with special assistance and protection. Specific issues raised in the advice included the needs of separated children seeking asylum, the age determination process, family reunification, detention of asylum seekers and child trafficking.

Advice of the Ombudsman for Children on the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, 2008