by Kathy Masterson
THE Mayor of Limerick Kevin Sheahan has described the housing of asylum seekers in direct provision centres as “a criminal act”.
Council members passed a motion last week from AAA Councillor Cian Prendiville calling on Limerick City and County Council to condemn the direct provision system and seek the immediate closure of the Mount Trenchard immigration centre in Foynes.
Asking Minister Fitzgerald to commit to abolishing direct provision by the end of 2015, the City North councillor said the system has been described as “the new Magdalene scandal happening in our midst”.
“I believe you can judge a society by how it treats its most vulnerable, and by that measure the Irish State has a deplorable track record. How it has treated orphans, single parents, and now asylum seekers.”
Cllr Prendiville also described Mount Trenchard as “the very worst direct provision centre in the country” and said that asylum seekers all over Ireland fear being sent there.
Cllr Emmett O’Brien (IND) said he had represented “as many as 100 asylum seekers”.
“When a person comes to Ireland to apply for asylum, one man or woman makes the decision on their case, subject to the discretion of the Minister for Justice. The problem isn’t so much Mount Trenchard as the system. Our immigration laws are not fit for purpose and are in need of a radical restructure. Unfortunately some people have to wait up to 14 years for a decision.”
Cllr Joe Leddin (LAB) pointed out that Ireland is “only one of two European countries that doesn’t allow those seeking asylum to work” and said Ireland was “in breach of the UN international treaty on human rights”.
Mayor Kevin Sheahan said: “The most striking, even the most hurting experience is when you meet seven, eight, nine year old children who have been born in this country, who are Irish, who are growing up in these centres. It is a criminal act to confine people in these centres and it is a criminal act to do that to Irish children.”
Reacting to the council vote, Doras Luimní chief executive Karen McHugh said it was reassuring to know they had the unanimous support of the council in bringing an end to the suffering of those trapped within the direct provision system.
“We remain deeply concerned about the wellbeing of residents in Mount Trenchard, many of whom require specialised care and support services. Private contractors and management have such power and responsibility over the wellbeing of residents.
“We have been raising our concerns with Mount Trenchard for almost a decade and despite our repeated calls for attention to the matter, no State body has been tasked with investigating the centre”, she said.
