The inexorable rise in the numbers of those seeking asylum in Ireland over the past decade has posed an enormous challenge to Irish society. Asylum seekers have been greeted with mixed responses by the state and by civil society - from compassion and concern to scepticism and pragmatism. Regardless of one’s views, the Irish demographic landscape has changed for ever and this book aims to shed light on a debate that has been fraught with misunderstanding and generalities. The editors intend Sanctuary in Ireland - Perspectives on Asylum Law and Policy to contribute to the refugee debate by dispelling myths and offering guidance on the possible directions that Irish asylum law and policy might take in the future.
The contributors explore the support systems available for asylum seekers, the role of the courts and the media, the asylum determination procedure, and the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Irish Constitution. Also included in Sanctuary in Ireland - Perspectives on Asylum Law and Policy a detailed analysis of the Immigration Act, 2003, the most widespread overhaul of asylum law to date. The book locates Irish asylum law and policy in its international and European settings and draws attention to the fact that this is an area of domestic policy that has repercussions beyond Irish shores.