A TD who visited Mosney yesterday as part of a delegation said doctors working with asylum seekers must ensure residents are not transferred to facilities that do not meet their medical needs.
Members of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children yesterday spoke to residents and staff in the former Butlins holiday camp in Co Meath.
On arrival the delegation was met by up to 100 asylum seekers protesting at the Reception and Integration Agency’s decision to transfer 111 of them to other centres, primarily Hatch Hill in Dublin, without consultation.
The asylum seekers claim they were told they would not receive food and that their weekly social welfare payments would be stopped if they did not leave.
There were angry scenes as the delegation was led inside the facility. However, a group of asylum seekers was later allowed in and spoke to the politicians.
Afterwards, committee chairman Seán O’Fearghail TD said: “The doctors presented themselves to us . . . expressing concern about the need for far greater engagements in terms of the medical needs and the medical issues for some of the people who have been identified for transfer.
“We need to be sure that when they’re transferred, they’re transferred to somewhere that the accommodation will meet their particular medical needs.”
The delegation, consisting of Mr O’Fearghail and TDs Kathleen Lynch, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Margaret Conlon and Senator Phil Prendergast, also visited St Patrick’s Centre in Monaghan, where they said “significant issues existed.”
Ms Lynch said Mosney and Monaghan received the same money but described the difference in the quality of facilities as “gaping”.
Mr O’Fearghail said a big issue in both centres was the “unduly long process” surrounding applications, with some waiting for over five years for a determination.
“Our concern would be around the impact that that unduly lengthy system has on the health and welfare of families and on children in particular,” he said, adding that several people had spoken of depression and nervous breakdowns.
He said the committee would make recommendations to the Department of Justice and the Minister arising from the visits.
Speaking after the meeting, Bahroz Wakashi, a Kurdish-Iranian living in Mosney said: “They know about our problems now, but I don’t know when they go back to parliament, when they are talking to Government, how much they will listen to them.”