Results 1-20 of 83 for "direct provision" speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Direct Provision System (13 May 2014)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, direct provision centres and the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) are under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. His Department has responsibility for the welfare of children in those centres but I would like to assure the Deputy that I have had ongoing contact with my colleague on this topic and that senior officials within my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications Data (12 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: ...received a first instance decision. The report of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) from December 2017, that is cited by the Deputy for comparison, relates to all persons residing in Direct Provision, regardless of whether they have had a first instance decision or not. Moreover, it is important to note that not all of those who apply for international protection choose to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (2 Jun 2022)

Charles Flanagan: 65. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if will report on progress on his commitment to abolish direct provision; if he will outline current numbers in direct provision in the State and those if any currently in emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27841/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As far as the right to work is concerned, there will be no restriction on that right to those who are in direct provision; it would involve everybody who has an engagement with the system. I am keen to ensure the new regime will be open, broadly based and will not merely acknowledge any skills deficit we might have in our labour market but will acknowledge the expertise and the experience of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Data (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: ..., as at the first of each month.  I can advise the Deputy that as of 1 January 2017 a total of 635 persons who had been granted international protection (317) or leave to remain (318) were residing in Direct Provision accommodation or in an Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre (EROC).  As of 14 November 2017, there were 639 persons with status residing in Direct...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (5 Dec 2017)

Charles Flanagan: It is a common misconception the term ‘direct provision’ relates only to the Department of Justice & Equality and to the accommodation provided to protection applicants. In 1999/2000, the Government decided that protection applicants would be provided with State services, such as health and education, directly through the existing mainstream services. This also implied...

Seanad: Reception Conditions Directive: Motion (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I would be very keen to have the issues raised therein replied to at the earliest opportunity. I do not have the letter. I note what the Senator says about the direct provision regime. I do not believe the direct provision regime is ideal, but I acknowledge that we are making improvements thereto along the lines recommended in the McMahon report. I visited some centres myself and would...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: The following table provides details of the number of pending applications in the International Protection Office for persons residing in direct provision, on 31 May 2020*. Case Stage/Length of Time Less than 3 months 3 to less than 6 months 6 to less than 12 months 12 to less than 18 months 18 to less than 24 months 24 months...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (18 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: There are a little over 400 people in direct provision for a period of five years or more. That figure is down. The longest-serving person that I have met is a woman who indicated that she was in direct provision for nine years. That is merely anecdotal, however. I am assured that if that is the case, she is one of a very small number of persons. We need to ensure that applications are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (26 Sep 2017)

Charles Flanagan: ...is being made. It is of course the case that it may not always be possible to address all of those needs.  If an applicant for International Protection is availing of accommodation in the Direct Provision system and is not satisfied with that accommodation, the procedures for raising complaints are set out clearly on the website of the Reception and Integration Agency...

Seanad: Direct Provision: Statements (4 Oct 2017)

Charles Flanagan: ...to wish the Senators well in these new surroundings. I wish them every success in their deliberations. I am pleased to be here to speak on the important topic which the Seanad has raised, namely, direct provision. I thank the Members of the Seanad for this engagement. This is an issue in which I take a very personal interest as well as a professional interest. At the outset, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (26 Sep 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Report of the Working Group to Report to Government on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers, also known as the Justice McMahon report, was published in June 2015. Its recommendations have implications for a number of Government Departments and services. My Department has since published three progress...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (18 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I do not accept what Deputy Wallace says in terms of the extent of his criticism. I visit direct provision centres and it seems to me that the greatest challenge is the length of time that residents spend in State-provided accommodation. That is an issue that needs to be addressed and is being addressed in the context of the International Protection Act. In the meantime, it needs to be...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised) (18 Apr 2018)

Charles Flanagan: ...that the focus of everybody involved is to meet the needs of those in the process in order to mitigate and minimise any undue discomfort that may be placed upon them by virtue of their being in direct provision for such a lengthy period. However, we are seeing a positive impact as a consequence of the 2015 legislation on the duration of stay. I am satisfied that that will continue into...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Further Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Further Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Further Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Further Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Further Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Charles Flanagan: ...and we are working to ensure applications will be processed as speedily and as effectively as possible. Members of this committee are more aware than most of the challenges encountered in the direct provision system. I do not have a significant menu of options, but it appears that the long-term future of Hatch Hall is in question, having regard to a likely change of use. That will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (29 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: There are 1,317 Direct Provision residents over 18 years of age that have been in the protection process for nine months or more and have not yet received a first instance decision. As of 17 May 2018, over half of cases in the International Protection Office awaiting a first instance decision and where the applicant is accommodated under the system of Direct Provision, are less than...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I want to admit that it is a challenge. Of course, I have to say being in a direct provision centre is not compulsory. Nobody is forced to stay in one.

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (13 May 2020)

Charles Flanagan: I am certainly aware that direct provision has been very much the focus of attention at, for example, the vulnerable persons sub-group of NPHET.

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: I would be happy to provide the Deputy with a written answer, but let me say that I will not rush to judgment on any particular direct provision centre-----

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: It is not a direct provision centre. It is emergency accommodation and there was an inspection in February of this year.