Brendan Howlin of the Labour Party has called on the Government to implement, what he called, "a proper and sane immigration policy". He also said that people here should welcome asylum seekers into the country. His appeal comes as the largest single group of asylum seekers to arrive here at the same time were having their applications processed.
Jennifer Isokan is a 23-year-old student from a small village in Nigeria. She left her country and her 3-year-old daughter in June, because she feared for her own safety. She travelled through five countries before arriving here in Rosslare on New Year's Eve. She says that she came to Ireland, because we speak English. As a born again Christian, Jennifer says that she cannot go back home because of religious rituals and persecution.
Of the 59 new asylum seekers, some are very well educated, with one doctor and four lawyers. 44 are from Romania, three are Bulgarian, seven from Nigeria, one from Sierra Leone, two Tongalise and two from Kosovo. They are all claiming political asylum and have joined other asylum seekers in temporary accommodation in Carne in Wexford. Some politicians in Wexford believe that, because Ireland is changing, we need a sane immigration policy to welcome, help and integrate people who are fleeing persecution.
