HOPE FOR CHANGE AT LAST ?
Direct provision has been consistently challenged by activists, politicians and human rights lawyers by advocacy and in the courts over the past few years with numerous articles on the topic, including some of those below, linked to on this website. The system has been widely condemned. Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly, former Supreme Court Judge Catherine McGuinness, refugee support groups and childcare expert Geoffrey Shannon amongst others have claimed that Ireland is in breach of constitutional and European human rights.
Yet every challenge and criticism has, up to now, washed over or been soaked up by government authorities without any change. Is there finally light at the end of the tunnel? This article by Liz O’Donnell in the Irish Independent (26 July 2014) points to a change of attitude with the appointment of the new Labour Minister of State Aodhan O Riordain at the Department of Justice. Is there hope at last that the Direct Provision system will be reformed? Read more