Asylum seekers at the Mosney Camp in Co Meath are to protest against what they say is the inhumane decision by the Department of Justice to relocate over 150 people to hostel accommodation elsewhere.
The Department has rejected suggestions that the human rights of those affected may have been ignored.
A spokesperson said single men and single women will be moved next week, adding that ‘no families’ will be moved.
The decision to move the asylum seekers was taken as result of a ‘value for money audit’, which the Department undertook.
They are to be moved into facilities where vacancies have arisen as a result of declining numbers of asylum seekers coming into the State.
The spokesperson added that the moved will have ‘no impact on their legal claims for asylum.’
Responding to concerns about the length of time it can take to process a claim for asylum, the spokesperson said that the Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, yesterday published a new immigration bill, which ‘is aimed at streamlining the often arduous and lengthy legal process involved in seeking asylum.’
The spokesperson also said that ‘Ireland has and always will fully comply with its human rights obligations’ in relation to asylum seekers.
However, the Free Legal Advice Centre warned the human rights of those being moved may not have been given adequate consideration.
