Protesters of several nationalities picketed the Department of Justice on Saturday to oppose the threatened deportation of asylum-seekers. The demonstration, organised by the Anti-Racism Campaign, also heard calls for the implementation of the Refugee Act and free access to the State for asylum-seekers.
Some 80 protesters chanted slogans including "O'Donoghue hear us loud and clear, refugees are welcome here!" and "Deportations no way, refugees are here to stay!".
The demonstration was attended by the leader of the Socialist Party, Mr Joe Higgins TD, who criticised as "outrageous" the attitude of the Department of Justice to asylum-seekers.
He said it had been claimed that 90 per cent of the applicants for refugee status were considered bogus, "before these people's cases are even heard."
"In the 1980s, tens of thousands of our own people were illegal in the United States. We had politicians crossing the Atlantic every month begging for them to be made legal. The very least we can do is to afford the same to the people who have sought refuge here".
Mr Khalid Ibrahim of the Association of Refugees and Asylum-Seekers in Ireland said welcoming asylum-seekers was "part of Ireland's international responsibility".
He said many asylum-seekers were being sent back from ports of entry without access to the services of a translator or legal aid. "Most of the staff of the asylum division of the Department of Justice work very hard and are friendly to asylum-seekers. The greater problem is a mentality that fails to treat refugees with respect and fairness.
"It's not a question of who is a refugee and who is bogus. Nobody will flee his or her country without a strong reason, and in most cases the reason is political", Mr Ibrahim said.
A kilted Scottish rugby fan, who was in Dublin for the match with Ireland, took part in the protest with enthusiasm. Mr Malcolm Tahner from Edinburgh said he felt he should demonstrate against "the madness of deportation". "There are people with chips on their shoulder who blame refugees for everything. As far as I'm concerned there's enough room and enough employment in both Ireland and Scotland for everyone".
Members of the Anti-Racism Campaign, who organised Saturday's protest, say their supporters include members "of different political organisations and of none" but are supported by the Socialist Party, the Workers' Solidarity Movement and the Anti-Nazi League.
