Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

We need to have a debate about opting in to the EU reception conditions directive. I am in favour of the implementation of the directive but we need to have a debate about it, first, because of the conditions of asylum seekers in our country who were treated and continue to be treated appallingly and, second, all the indications are that the Government intends to implement the directive in such a limited way as to make, for example, the right to work effectively inoperable for a majority of asylum seekers, ruling out 60 occupations, limiting it to jobs that pay more than €30,000 a year and requiring work permits that would cost between €500 and €1,000, so I believe we should have a debate.

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