The Church of Ireland diocesan synod of Dublin and Glendalough was told last night of the arrest this week of two asylum seekers who had been working in a shop in Dun Laoghaire.
Both understood they were covered by new Government regulations which allow asylum seekers work under certain circumstances.
Mr Terence Read, chairman/ secretary of the inter-church Karibu Project, which provides help for asylum seekers, told the synod that on Monday last, the two men were arrested for working without permits.
One of the men is with the Karibu Project and has been in Ireland for over a year. He is awaiting an appeal hearing, Mr Read said.
Mr Read said it was his understanding that under the new regulations, if such a person was in this country for a year that person had the same right to work as someone with refugee status.
He outlined to the synod the several unsuccessful attempts he had made to seek clear guidelines on this matter from various Government departments and other agencies.
The two asylum seekers had secured the jobs some months ago and had informed their community welfare offices, he said. All their social welfare benefits were discontinued and no query was raised as to whether they should be working.
"They joked that they were paying the Minister for Justice's wages," Mr Read said, but now "they have absolutely nothing". They had such dignity and pride they did not want to be on social welfare, he said.
After their arrest, by a garda and an immigration officer, Mr Read told the synod the men were taken to Dun Laoghaire Garda station where they were searched and put in a cell. "One was asked if he had a knife," Mr Read said. They were released on bail of £200 each and appeared in Dun Laoghaire District Court on Tuesday. The case was set for hearing on November 2nd.
Mr Read said the shop manager was distressed by the arrest of the men, who she said were among her best employees. She said the immigration officer had told her she should be employing Irish people. She responded that she knew nothing about work permits, and had spent five months and £1,200 on advertisements but still couldn't get people to work in the shop.
Four members of the Karibu project management committee were delegates to last night's synod.
