Nasc (NGO)

Nasc is an Irish independent, non-governmental migrant rights centre in Ireland, based in Cork.

Nasc
Founded2000
TypeHumanitarian NGO
Location
FieldsRefugees, Activism, NGO
Key people
Fiona Finn (CEO)
Websitenascireland.org

History

Nasc was founded in 2000 in Cork by Sisters of Mercy, the Society of African Missions and a group of activists, in response to the creation of the Direct Provision system. They aimed to provide information and advice to migrants in Ireland. Initially based in Bishop's Street, the organisation moved to Enterprise House on Mary Street, Cork in 2005. From 2007, the group has given legal advice with funding from Atlantic Philanthropies and the One Foundation. They are now located in 34 Paul Street.[1][2]

Activities

In 2015 Nasc produced a map of incidents of racism and hate crimes in Ireland.[3] They have provided legal support to the Roma community in Ireland.[4]

Nasc have been involved in integration programmes for migrants, such as those from Syria in County Cork.[5] In collaboration with other groups, they have held a legal information evening to deal with the uncertainties around Brexit,[6] while highlighting the continuing issues around the lack of information around Brexit for migrants.[7]

They called on the Irish government to take in more refugees in response to the European migrant crisis.[8] In 2016, they launched the Safe Passage campaign to reunite refugees with family members in Ireland.[9]

They have criticised the Irish government for housing migrants and asylum seekers in hotels and B&Bs as emergency accommodation long term due to the lack of space in existing Direct Provision centres and the problems with establishing new ones.[10] Nasc have called the arson attacks on hotels earmarked for emergency accommodation hate crimes.[11] They have also criticised the Irish government's use of prisons for migrant detentions.[12]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nasc alongside Doras, the Sanctuary Runners, Irish Refugee Council, Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, and the Immigrant Council of Ireland, called for all vulnerable and at-risk migrants be removed from Direct Provision centres.[13] Nasc has also spoken out about the poor facilities and living conditions within Direct Provision centres.[14] In particular, drawing attention to the inability of those living in the centres to adhere to social distancing and self isolation during the pandemic,[15][16] and that these residents should be prioritised for testing.[17] They have also highlighted that those working in low paid jobs face similar issues.[18] Nasc worked with Together Ireland to produce videos in over 30 languages providing information about the pandemic.[19][20]

References
  1. "Our history". nascireland.org. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  2. Finn, Fiona (10 May 2019). "NASC will play an integral part of a city rising". Echo Live. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  3. Ryan, Órla (12 December 2015). "A new 'hate map' will document racist incidents in Ireland". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  4. DeWan, Jennifer (7 April 2017). "'Naturalisation and recognition of Irish citizenship will improve Roma rights'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  5. Kenny, Áine (3 February 2020). "'They treat us like family': Cork communities sponsoring refugees to settle in their town". Echo Live. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  6. "Nasc to host migrant community event in Cork". Irish Legal News. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  7. Butterly, Luke; Bloomer, Natalie; Jeraj, Samir (18 September 2019). "Brexit: Non-EU family of UK citizens in Ireland get 'worrying' letters". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  8. O'Keeffe, Cormac (13 September 2019). "Ireland should more than double intake of refugees to meet 'fair share', migrant group says". www.irishexaminer.com. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  9. Hurley, Fiona (30 December 2016). "Refugees seeking family reunification face a new obstacle". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  10. Thomas, Cónal (14 January 2020). "'They operate in a vacuum': Migrant rights group hits out at lack of inspections for hotels housing asylum seekers". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  11. Ryan, Órla (11 January 2019). "'This should be treated as a hate crime': Concern expressed after fire at hotel earmarked as Direct Provision centre". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  12. O'Keeffe, Cormac (12 June 2019). "Dedicated immigration facility due to open at Dublin Airport". www.irishexaminer.com. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  13. Burke, Roisin (25 March 2020). "'Move the vulnerable out': Growing calls for asylum seekers to be removed from Direct Provision centres". Echo Live. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  14. Thomas, Cónal (19 June 2020). "Department asks Direct Provision centre owners to prove living conditions allegations are 'clearly false'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  15. Malekmian, Shamim (29 May 2020). "Could This Be The End Of Direct Provision In Ireland?". Hotpress. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  16. Ó Liatháin, Concubhar (28 March 2020). "Vulnerable asylum seekers need to be moved out - NASC". The Corkman. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  17. Thomas, Cónal (20 May 2020). "HSE letter outlines Direct Provision strategy but warns accommodation may be 'insufficient or unsuitable' for self-isolation". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  18. Hennessy, Michelle (19 May 2020). "Living conditions of migrant workers at meat plants 'should be considered before criticism'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  19. "New Covid-19 advice initiative for migrant communities". RTÉ News. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  20. Pollak, Sorcha (19 May 2020). "Multilingual videos to better inform Ireland's migrants on Covid-19". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
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