Lives are being put in danger by Ireland’s failure to protect vulnerable people caught up in the ongoing refugee crisis, according to the Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI).

“The current crisis has brought our human rights record into sharp focus and put a spotlight on those areas where Ireland continues to fall short, in particular when it comes to protecting the vulnerable including stateless children, victims of domestic violence as well as those split from their loved ones,” said Brian Killoran, chief executive of the ICI.

In its submission to the United Nations ahead of next April’s periodic review of human rights, the ICI calls for a range of measures to ensure Ireland’s immigration laws offer protection to people fleeing for their lives.

These include protection laws that provide for the “independence of decision making, which will also act in the best interest of children, family reunification and domestic violence.”

In addition, the ICI proposes the introduction of a new stateless determination procedure in line with international obligations, as part of comprehensive immigration reform – including the right to family reunification in Ireland for Irish citizens and legally resident migrants alike.

The council also calls for an independent appeals mechanisms for immigration and naturalisation decisions.

“These are shortfalls which have been well documented in the past, however current events have brought them into sharp focus,” said Killoran. “Already the UNHCR estimates that 142,000 children have been born in exile as a result of the Syrian Crisis – and their rights must be recognised.”