by Andrew Carey
ASYLUM seekers living in Direct Provision centres in Limerick are “literally broken by the experiences there”, according to Minister for State for Equality Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Speaking after he visited two of the Limerick centres last week, Mr Ó Ríordáin described it as an emotional experience and while the managers at the centres were doing their best, the main issue was the length of time people were held in the centres.
“I met one man today and he is quite literally broken – broken by his experiences before he came to Ireland and it has been compounded by his situation here. It was pretty emotional to meet someone who was quite literally falling apart and broken as an individual. You couldn’t but be affected by that person’s circumstances.
Stating that Ireland’s “love affair incarceration and institutionalisation still persists”, Minister Ó Ríordáin said that as a nation, we always had difficulty with difference.
“In the past, we incarcerated difference and we’re still doing it with direct provision. In the 1950s, we had 250,000 people in mental institutions. We had it with the mother and baby homes. We had it in the Magdalen Laundries and the industrial schools and we still have it.
“I don’t believe the system should be abolished but it needs to work as originally intended. People should only be in the system for as very short time. We have people who are there far too long. There is a sense of hopelessness around what people are experiencing and it is worse when children are involved.
Stating that the working group set up to reform the Direct Provision system was due to meet within the next two weeks, Minister O’Riordain said that he felt the Government’s approach to the situation was sufficient.
“I feel a huge sense of responsibility to oversee a system that is an awful lot more humane and an awful lot more dignified for those who are here and want to be part of this country.
“I know people are advocating for the complete abolition of the existing system and I can understand where they are coming from, but if we can work our way through the individual issues, we can get an awful lot done,” he said.
