LOCAL campaign group ‘End Direct Provision Limerick’ held a day of action in the city centre this week calling for an end to the direct provision system for asylum seekers.
The group, supported by migrant rights organisation Doras Luimní, staged a demonstration on Bedford Row on Friday afternoon “to highlight the inaction on direct provision since the acknowledgement by the Government that the system is unfit for purpose”.
According to the group: “The system of direct provision has been widely criticised by local, national and international human rights advocates. It has proven to be unfit for purpose and has caused irreversible damage to thousands of men, women and children.
“In the past twelve months we have seen considerable change in terms of public debate and awareness of the issues regarding direct provision and the broader asylum system. However, despite the nationwide protests; the Government’s facilitation of a round table, the establishment of a Working Group and the subsequent formation of a task force; there has been no action.”
Limerick City and County Council passed a motion earlier this year calling for the closure of Mount Trenchard direct provision centre in Foynes, and for a commitment to end Direct Provision by the end of 2015.
End Direct Provision Limerick is calling on local TDs and Government Ministers to further advocate on behalf of the people of Limerick “to help us to bring about much needed change for the lives of thousands of asylum seekers living in direct provision in Limerick and across the country”.
A spokesperson for Doras Luimní said that the Government must act quickly and effectively to ensure that the practice of institutionalising asylum seekers in Ireland comes to an end. The recent increase of applications from asylum seekers in Ireland – as a result of the conflicts in Syria, Eritrea and beyond – should motivate effective forward-thinking policy and practices.
