1. Introduction.
This report details the key findings, conclusions and recommendations of the Ombudspersons and the Protection of Refugees and Asylum Seekers (OPRAS) project. A summary report of the research is available on the project website. 1 This introductory section will discuss: • The aims and objectives of the project. • The research methodology and its limitations. • Entitlement to public services for asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland. • The role and powers of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman. • Previous research relating to asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland. • The structure of the report. Aim and objectives The overall aim of the project was to enhance access to justice for asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland and beyond, by focusing on the under-explored role that ombudspersons can play in this area. 2 The objectives of the project were to: • Work collaboratively with the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO) in order to explore the barriers facing asylum seekers and refugees in accessing devolved public services in Northern Ireland. 3 • Develop more collaborative relationships with civil society organisations. 4 • Explore the potential for taking systemic action on issues facing asylum seekers and refugees. • Examine international best practice in relation to the work of ombudspersons in supporting and protecting asylum seekers and refugees.
Methodology and limitations The methodology involved the following activities:
• Three half day workshops with civil society organisations, policymakers, and public service providers (including a total of 37 participants). • 20 qualitative semi-structured interviews, involving 28 participants and lasting between 40 minutes and one hour: 12 interviews were carried out with civil society organisation staff, two of whom had lived experience as asylum seekers and refugees, and eight interviews were carried out with representatives of public bodies. • A survey of International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) members, which received 34 usable responses (14.3% of IOI members). • Seven follow-up interviews with ombudsperson organisations who completed the survey. • An international expert roundtable involving 13 ombudsperson institutions and academic experts from the Netherlands, Serbia, Greece, Denmark, Belgium, Ireland and the UK. • A meeting with a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and a meeting held with a lived experience group involving two refugees and one asylum seeker. 5 A number of measures were taken to ensure data quality and accuracy. All interviews were digitally recorded and professionally transcribed. Transcripts of interviews were sent to participants, providing an opportunity for data to be corrected. Detailed notes were taken at workshops, which were also sent to participants to ensure accuracy. Similarly, a detailed note was taken of the international expert roundtable and participants were given an opportunity to comment and provide further information. Finally, since this report includes extensive use of quotations from interview participants, interviewees were sent a draft copy of chapters two to six of this report and provided with a further opportunity to correct or clarify any issues.
1 https://oprasproject.wordpress.com/ 2 While there remains debate of whether the term “ombudsman” is gender neutral, this report considers that the term ombudsperson is more inclusive. The term “ombudsman” is only used when this is the official name of a particular ombudsperson institution. 3 The focus of the project was on devolved public services, which are under the jurisdiction of NIPSO. The project excluded consideration of the asylum seeking process itself, which is an excepted matter under the Norther Ireland Act 1998. 4 This report uses the term “civil society organisations” to describe non-governmental organisations including community groups, advice and advocacy organisations, charities, and other third sector organisations. In the Northern Ireland context these are more commonly referred to as Voluntary and Community Sector organisations. 5 The latter meeting was held by NIPSO, however, with agreement of those involved, a note of the meeting with shared for use in this research.
Final report of the of Ombudspersons and the Protection of Refugees and Asylum Seekers (OPRAS) project | 9
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