On the eve of the local elections, rights groups have made a formal complaint to Ireland’s Standards in Public Office Commission and to the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights about a political campaigning policy issued by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA).
The groups claim that the policy, which was issued on 18 July 2008 but has just come to light, directly interferes with the democratic rights of residents in RIA accommodation centres.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and Integrating Ireland released a copy of the circular (click here to view), which states that:
“To maintain the politically neutral environment in asylum centres under contract to RIA, centre managers must ensure that party political leaflets, posters or circulars are not displayed or circulated. If such documentation is received through the post, it must be returned to the sender accompanied by a copy of this circular”.
The RIA circular makes clear that it is specifically concerned about the circulation of information that includes “political stances being taken in relation to various issues in the asylum/immigration area”.
The ICCL and Integrating Ireland have sent a formal complaint about the circular to Mr. Justice Smith, Chairman of the Standards in Public Office Commission and to Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
Mr Aki Stavrou, Director of Integrating Ireland said:
“Asylum seekers have a right to vote in local elections, public representatives and those running for public office are entitled to make them aware of their views on issues directly relevant to them. It is shocking to discover that, since last summer, the Reception and Integration Agency has been operating a policy which appears designed to stifle political debate and access to information by political candidates, and which constitutes a direct interference with the democratic rights of residents in centres under contract to the RIA.”
ICCL Director Mr Mark Kelly added:
“Our organisations have made formal complaints about the undemocratic nature of this RIA policy at both domestic and international level. Party political and independent candidates in the local elections will have suffered from the chilling effects of this bureaucratic circular, and we trust that principled politicians will join our call for this invidious RIA policy to be set aside immediately.”
Mr Aki Stavrou, Director, Integrating Ireland and Mr Mark Kelly, ICCL Director, are available for interview and further comment.