Results 41-60 of 83 for "direct provision" speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (5 Jul 2018)

Charles Flanagan: ...relation to collecting the contributions are currently being finalised, however, I would like to emphasise that no Protection Applicant will be required to make any financial contribution in respect of their direct provision accommodation and related supports until they have been in employment (or self-employment) for a period of 12 weeks. When they are in a position to contribute, any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (26 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 245 together. As the Deputy may be aware, the Direct Provision system encompasses the range of State services including accommodation, food, health and education directly provided to international protection applicants through all the relevant Government Departments and Agencies. It is a whole-of-government support system for those seeking...

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...

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

Charles Flanagan: ..., but my expectation is that this will be a very positive measure and a very broadly-based scheme in order to meet the needs of those currently seeking asylum and who are enduring delays. The direct provision allowance will be considered in line with any income from employment and it is an issue that will need to be considered in the context of people in receipt of that allowance going...

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 Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (12 Jun 2018)

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 reports on the...

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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Direct Provision is the term used to describe the on arrival support system in Ireland whereby State services including accommodation, food, health and education are directly provided to international protection applicants through the relevant Government Department or Agency. It is a whole of government support system for those seeking international protection in Ireland, although the term...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: ...offers inter alia full bed and board including all utilities, medical facilities ensuring the applicant’s basic needs are met while their application is being processed. This is referred to as ‘direct provision’ and not all applicants take up this offer. On 6 May 2018, the Reception and Integration Agency of my Department had contracts for 35 accommodation centres...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (23 May 2018)

Charles Flanagan: ...2018, there are a total of 3,002 applications for international protection pending in the International Protection Office awaiting a first instance decision, where the applicant is accommodated under the system of direct provision.  Over half of these cases are less than one year in the system and 95% are two years or less. This is a major improvement from the situation...

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: On direct provision, the outturn for the Reception and Integration Agency was over €67 million which reflected the increase in the number of persons applying for protection in the State and also the number of persons who continued to live in State provided accommodation. It is, of course, after a steady decline in the years 2008 to 2014, inclusive. In 2017 the allocation was...

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: ...and members of the commission with a view to ensuring that it fulfils its statutory functions in such a way that those who are in receipt of or seeking its services will have confidence. On the matter of direct provision, it is not my wish that people would spend long periods in accommodation provided by the State. While I acknowledge there are shortcomings, I also acknowledge the firm...

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: 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...

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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (29 Mar 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Direct Provision is the commonly used term to describe the support system in Ireland whereby State services including accommodation, food, health and education are directly provided to international protection applicants through the relevant Government Department or Agency. We do not know who or how many people will arrive on our shores today or tomorrow seeking international...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Support Services (30 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: ...will be discussed in detail with the EU Commission in the coming period.  Participation in the Directive will, for the first time, place the provision of these material reception conditions for applicants, which are currently provided for under the executive system of Direct Provision, on a statutory basis, underpinned by EU law. Opting into this Directive will align that...

Reception Conditions Directive: Motion (23 Jan 2018)

Charles Flanagan: ..., as well as provisions on health care and education. Participation in the directive will place the provision of material reception conditions for applicants, which are currently provided for under the Executive system of direct provision, on a statutory basis and it will be underpinned by EU law for the first time. The State already has a functioning employment permits system for third...

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

Charles Flanagan: ...work of my departmental colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, who engages on these issues on a daily basis. Further, members of the MacMahon group continue to be actively involved in the process of reforming the direct provision system, including by playing a role, for example, in the standards development process which is currently well under way. The Supreme Court gave...

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...