Dr. Liam Thornton:

As I mentioned, direct provision is 14 years old last month, having been introduced formally in April 2000. As the Chairman mentioned, that was in response to a perceived large number of people claiming asylum and the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stating what his European Union partners were telling him, that he would have to act and would have to ensure asylum seekers did not have any access to the welfare state. That was coupled with significant pressure on housing in the country, which is also occurring as we speak.

There was significant pressure on housing when the direct provision system was introduced. There were approximately 10,000 asylum applications in 2000 but the figure for last year was fewer than 1,000. It is somewhat understandable why the system developed as it did. Over the 14 year period since 2000, the weekly payments of €19.10, and €9.60 in respect of children, have not changed. For 14 years, there has been no change to the rate of payment for those who seek asylum under the direct provision system.

I must give credit where credit is due in that some progress has been made on facilities. Generally, no asylum seeker will be without a roof over his or her head. However, I wonder what the quality of accommodation and the standard of living made available, such as being forced to eat in a canteen every day, might do to individuals' mental health. I know one individual who has been in direct provision for almost ten years. Dr. Carol Coulter, in her family law review project, pointed out that the Child and Family Agency has had to become involved in a number of cases. Mothers, in particular, are suffering significant mental health problems partly due to what they suffered in their countries of origin but also due to the isolation and desolation they experience in direct provision. While it is positive that people have roofs over their heads we must examine the extent to which these provisions meet our obligations under the Constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.