Government advised time to act is now on key Working Group
recommendations
Tuesday, 21st July 2015
A new website tracking the Governments implementation of the
Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process, including
Direct Provision, is launched today. Timetoact.ie is an initiative
by the undersigned members of the Working Group which was tasked
with examining improvements to the current system. The initiative
calls for the immediate implementation of certain key
recommendations from the 173 recommendation contained in the
report.
The report of the Working Group will not serve its purpose and
improve the protection processor enableasylum seekersto live with
greater dignity if it is not implemented said Eugene Quinn,
National Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service Ireland. We are
calling on the Irish Government to act now and honour their promise
to introduce a number of key recommendations by the end of
July.
The organisations welcomed a recent announcement by the
Department of Education to improve access to third level education
for children in the system. They also welcomed the Department of
Healths decision to exempt asylum seekers from prescription
charges. However disappointment was expressed at the lack of any
movement on the recommendations in the Justice sphere addressing
the length of time issue, which is the primary concern articulated
by Direct Provision residents and a principal reason for the
establishment of the Working Group in October last year.
Mr. Stephen Nganga, Coordinator, Core Group of Asylum Seekers,
emphasised that 4,300 asylum seekers residing in Irelands 34 Direct
Provision centres are watching eagerly for the recommendations to
be implemented:
Many of us have been living in limbo with our lives on hold in
Direct Provision for too long. The solution recommended for persons
who have been in the system for more than five years will assist
many to finally exit the system. All that is required is the
political courage to act.
3,350 people should benefit from the implementation of this
recommendation, 1,480 of whom reside in Direct Provision, including
500 children.
Another key recommendation the Group is calling to be acted upon
immediately is to increase the weekly Direct Provision allowance
for children and adults for the first time since it was introduced
15 years ago. Ms. Tanya Ward, Chief Executive, Childrens Rights
Alliance, said:
Concerns about the impact of long periods of time spent in
Direct Provision on children have consistently been voiced
nationally by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Geoffrey
Shannon, and by international human rights bodies. Implementing key
Working Group recommendations now can lead to real change and
improve the quality and dignity of these vulnerable childrens
lives.
The Working Group Report provides a roadmap for fundamental and
long overdue reform of the Protection Process and the Direct
Provision system The recommendations set out in the Report were
agreed to by a consensus of all Members of the Working Group
including: the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department
of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of the
Environment, Community and Local Government, the Department of
Social Protection, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs,
the Department of Education and Skills, TUSLA, the HSE and the
Office of the Attorney General. Over 300 residents of Direct
Provision, including children, shared their views and ideas with
Working Group during an extensive consultation process which
included visits to Direct Provision centres around the country. The
Working Group recommendations directly address the serious concerns
raised by the residents.
[Notes for editors]
1) For further information, please contact:
a. Stephen Nganga (Coordinator, Core Group of Asylum Seekers) at
087-2491969b. Tanya Ward (CEO, Childrens Rights Alliance) at
087-6531069c. Eugene Quinn (National Director, JRS Ireland) at
086-8214888d. Jennifer deWaan (Communications and Community
Coordinator, Nasc) at 086-0501507e. Greg Straton (Executive
Director, SPIRASI) at 087-69842732) Timetoact.ie is a joint
initiative of the Core Group of Asylum Seekers, Childrens Rights
Alliance, JRS Ireland, Nasc, SPIRASI with the support of UNHCR, all
of whom were members of the Working Group.
The following organisations endorse the calls made on
Timetoact.ie
Core Group of Asylum Seekers Childrens Rights Alliance JRS
Ireland Nasc SPIRASI UNHCR
