Refugee and migrant rights organisation Doras is today calling on politicians, commentators and others with influence to avoid the use of language that sends negative messages about asylum seekers and refugees.
In recent days Doras has seen a number of politicians use terms like “illegal” that call into question the right of some people to seek international protection or asylum.
Doras CEO and Roscommon native John Lannon says seeking asylum is a fundamental human right, and everyone who does so is by definition lawfully resident in our State.
He says references by government politicians and others to people arriving illegally only add to the confusion that might exist amongst the public, and plays into the discourse of the far right.
Mr. Lannon has been giving more details to Midwest Radio's Michael D. McAndrew....