Explosive documents show IPAS applicants being coached how to exploit the asylum process.

Explosive documents show IPAS applicants being coached how to exploit the asylum process.

Chairman of Independent Ireland Ken O’Flynn has said he has come into possession of a lengthy document that reveals how asylum and international protection applicants are being coached to effectively exploit the IPO interview process through the use of a series of scripted responses.

The Cork North-Central TD said that the document was provided to him by a person who was given access to the document in a professional capacity.

However, this person subsequently indicated to him that he became deeply alarmed at the implications raised by the document’s contents for the integrity of the international protection process.

Deputy O’Flynn said, “The document I have received is quite clearly the work of a person thoroughly familiar with the international protection application and interview process. It encourages the applicant to roleplay the interview and use a “cheat sheet timeline” along with “rescue tricks” if the applicant finds difficulty in answering any given question.”

“The document also encourages applicants never under any circumstances to admit that they “are fine now” because they are in Ireland, as this “may weaken your case.”  Instead, the applicant is encouraged to consistently repeat that the line “I still live with trauma and fear.”

“From my perspective this explosive document merely serves to confirm what we have known for some time; that the Irish international protection system is nothing short of an international laughingstock among ‘applicants’ and that it wide is open to fraud and abuse.”

Deputy O’Flynn concluded, “I will be demanding effective and immediate action on this from Minister O’Callaghan and the International Protection Office because from what I can see there is almost an entire industry out there whose sole function is to train people how to subvert the legitimate processes of the Irish state and rip off the Irish taxpayer in the process.”