Results 21-40 of 71 for "direct provision" speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Direct Provision: Motion (27 Jan 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...of general elections nor does it become a feature of the political discourse at that difficult time for candidates. I believe that is appropriate and I hope we can hold on to that. The term direct provision describes the system whereby the State directly provides accommodation and other ancillary needs for those who apply for asylum in Ireland. When an applicant presents himself or...

Seanad: Direct Provision: Motion (27 Jan 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank Senators for raising this issue. When the history of it is written, Seanad Éireann and those in it who have advocated for children will be acknowledged. Those in direct provision centres will be thankful for what has been said. I remind Senators that the system was set up at a time when the people who came to this country seeking protection were living in parks and sleeping on...

Seanad: Direct Provision: Motion (27 Jan 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: That is the intent behind the reforms we are overseeing. The tragedy of direct provision, as with other aspects of public policy that have failed, is that a short-term measure becomes a long-term solution. When given responsibility for this area, I did not just want to read reports and engage with NGOs, but wanted to see, smell and taste the centres myself. I have seen, smelt and tasted...

International Protection Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...do not oppose the motivations behind the amendment but, unfortunately, we are dealing with technical wording that appears in legislation. The working group on the protection process, including direct provision and supports to asylum seekers, held a similar view and one whose intent I share. However, the working group did not consider the potential impact on other areas of this Bill,...

International Protection Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We are dealing with two separate issues if we are talking about the Bill and the direct provision system. Approximately half of the people here seeking asylum are in direct provision and half are not. There are approximately 4,500 people in direct provision and a similar number are not. Members know the working group was established 18 months ago and it reported earlier this year. A...

International Protection Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...this country will get a decision on their application within six months and finality on that decision within 12 months. There will not be a situation in which they languish in the system, many in direct provision, for a long number of years. That is the point of the Bill. The international protection officer will be a person of the highest standard who will exercise his or her duties...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...that new applicants have a more transparent and quicker protection process. The biggest problem with our system has been identified. Senator Ó Clochartaigh seems to be confusing this Bill with a direct provision Bill. This is not a direct provision Bill. Last week he wanted to abolish direct provision, with no sense of how he was going to house thousands of asylum seekers. He...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: This is the International Protection Bill. It is not a Bill that deals with the direct provision system. I will try to explain it to the Senator in the simplest possible terms. The direct provision system is one in which a person resides while awaiting a decision. The International Protection Bill is about the system through which the person can get that decision. They are two very...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...our duty to oversee legislation that will take a much more humane approach to people who come to this land and seek protection. The second point relates to the absolute commitment we made in terms of direct provision. People are again suggesting that the direct provision report on the protection process is on a shelf somewhere. It is being implemented. In respect of the quote that the...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: .... It is the only game in town and it would be a derogation of duty if we did not oversee the implementation of this Bill, which will ensure that we do not have people languishing in centres, like direct provision centres, because their applications will be processed in a speedy fashion. On the amendment, I completely accept and understand where Senators are coming from. This is an issue...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The intent is for six months. I totally accept the Senator's point that direct provision, for example, was supposed to be a six-month holding situation but has turned into a long-term solution, if one likes. It is just like how, when rent allowance initially was brought in, it was meant to be an emergency payment for people at risk of homelessness but has turned into a 12-year or 15-year...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...the Bill is to deal with the length of time issue. Of the 173 recommendations in the working group report, 78 relate to the protection process, 26 of which are dealt with in this Bill, 51 relate to direct provision and 44 relate to other supports. We are implementing the direct provision report on the protection process.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...he wants me to go through the entirety of the working group report on the protection process, I will not do so. The report is an historic document because it marks the first time in the history of direct provision that this issue is actually being reformed. I will not go through each and every recommendation. Many of them are works in progress. I am here to speak on the Bill and on the...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: This is the protection Bill. It deals with a large number of the recommendations set out in the report of the working group on direct provision. Direct provision has been a disaster for the families involved. It was a six-month solution that turned into a 12-year or 13-year solution. Nobody who is engaged in this process ever suggested that direct provision would be abolished. I never...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...of the sentiments that Senator Ó Clochartaigh has outlined. The entire composition of the working group that was established to investigate and report back on conditions and the entire nature of direct provision has the rights of children and child welfare at its very heart. In fact, the composition of NGOs and individuals who took part in the working group was central. I will...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Again, I concur with the sentiments expressed by Senator Ó Clochartaigh and understand the motivation behind his amendment. However, the technical reality is that children in direct provision are currently in a legal lacuna, as no application for protection can be made on their behalf, but section 15 (3) of this Bill addresses that issue.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I reject that assertion because I have visited approximately 14 direct provision centres and statistics show that since the publication of the working group report, its recommendations are being implemented. The number of asylum applications that have been processed and leave to remain permissions granted has grown by around 60% in that period of time. The recommendations of the report are...

European Council: Statements (20 Oct 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...programme and to accept up to 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers overall under the EU resettlement and relocation programme. This will not come at any cost to the ongoing issue of addressing the direct provision scandal in Ireland. Anybody living within those centres should not be under the impression that they will be at a disadvantage because of our humanitarian response to the...

Direct Provision Report: Motion (12 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...of the issues that goes beyond politics in this House. I have been impressed by the level of interest that Deputies and Senators from different parties have taken in this discussion on this area of direct provision. However, references to welfare fraud do not help when we are discussing the issue of direct provision in this country. We have had a love affair with incarcerating people....

Direct Provision Report: Motion (12 Jun 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...process to be engaged in by Government in the context of recommendations to be made in the forthcoming report of independent working group on improvements to the protection process, including direct provision and supports for asylum seekers. I understand that report will be presented to Government this month. I thank Members of the joint committee for their diligence in going about...