Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 8 July 2021

Committee on Public Petitions

Direct Provision Policy and Related Matters: Discussion

Mr. Nick Henderson:

I will comment quickly on things that could be implemented quickly. Figure 6.1 on page 83 of the advisory group report contains a list of things that could be implemented. It is literally titled "Recommendations that could be implemented quickly".

In terms of the number of people who have passed away or died in direct provision, there is a very topical article in the Irish Examinerin which Mr. Lannon is quoted by Mr. Mostafa Darwish.

I think the figure in that is around 84 people who passed away or died in direct provision. We are aware in the last year, very sadly, of at least two suicides. The main point that organisations have been making is that there is a need for greater transparency. There is also a need for better co-ordination between the Garda, the International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, and also the body that investigates deaths here, the Coroner Service. There needs to be more transparency and communication. There was a case in Galway of somebody called Sylva Tukula who passed away and there was a terrible mix-up in terms of her remains. I will finish there.

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