Introduction of single procedure ‘quick fix’ to end long periods in direct provision
‘End Institutionalised Living’ Day of Action, Cork 2013
“Minister Shatter should immediately introduce ‘Single Procedure’ legislation to address the long delays in asylum and protection applications. The single procedure makes an application for refugee status or subsidiary protection a one step process. It is a quick and direct solution that will help ease the excessively long waiting periods asylum seekers experience living in the direct provision system,” says Nasc CEO Fiona Finn in the wake of the publication of a new report on direct provision in Ireland.
The report, produced by the European Movement Network (Ireland) and the Economic and Social Research Institute, highlights a number of failings with the direct provision system, a system put in place to house asylum seekers while they wait for protection applications to be processed. The failings documented in the report are ones Nasc along with other NGOs and commentators have long been drawing attention to including: lack of privacy, overcrowding, insufficient supports for children and lack of autonomy. The report particularly highlights the numbers of people who have been living in direct provision for long periods of time. 59% of residents have been living in direct provision for more than 3 years; 9% have been living there for over 7 years.
“These centres are simply not suitable for long term living. This is a fact acknowledged by the Minister for Justice yet nothing has been done to provide alternatives. An immediate introduction of the single procedure – a piece of legislation which has already been written and is currently lying dormant along with the rest of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill – would have a significant impact on the time it takes to process applications for protection,” Ms. Finn continues. “While we understand the introduction of the single procedure will not impact asylum seekers under the current regime, it would prevent anyone suffering such devastatingly long waiting times in the future.”
Other steps the Department of Justice must immediately take include the introduction of HIQA inspections of direct provision accommodation centres and the introduction of an independent complaints mechanism for residents. Ms. Finn comments, “These are simple, internationally recognised, best practice standards that any institutions that house people – especially children – should have as a bare minimum. How many reports have to be produced that document how destructive this system is to the physical and mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable people who have come to our country seeking protection?”
“We now call on the Minister for Justice to immediately legislate for the introduction of the single procedure,” Ms. Finn ends.
ENDS.
