DIRECT PROVISION REFORM PROMISES ‘JUST TALK’
THE founder of a group representing asylum seekers has said promises by the Justice Minister to reform the Direct Provision system are ‘just talk’.
Lucky Khambule, founder of the Movement of Asylum
Seekers in Ireland (Masi), one of the groups that organised yesterday’s Black Lives Matter protest in Dublin, said Charlie Flanagan and the junior integration minister David Stanton were aware of the pressure on them to speak out regarding Direct Provision.
On Friday, the ministers issued a statement about the progress of the State’s Expert Group on Direct Provision headed by Dr Catherine Day. Dr Day had identified a list of measures that would immediately improve the situation of those in the system in which asylum applicants go to live in communal centres where they are provided meals and a small amount of spending money.
They may work in certain circumstances, but many complain of not being allowed to cook their own food, and of substandard and overcrowded accommodation. Many have spent years in the system awaiting a decision on their case.
The measures include extending the right to work, exploring alternative housing models, reducing the time to process applications, ensuring binding standards for centres and compulsory training for centre managers.
The ministers said they have instructed their officials to have the proposals ready for the incoming government.
Mr Khambule was sceptical of the ministers’ announcement, saying: ‘They want people to think something will now be done.
‘They’re feeling pressure from the public... but until these points are implemented properly, until we see action, it’s just talk.’