The Daily Star Ireland
Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), Liam Herrick, has criticized the State’s inadequate planning for the recent surge in asylum applications. Speaking on RTÉ’s Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, Herrick highlighted that ongoing global conflicts have led to increased asylum requests across Europe, a trend the State should have anticipated.
Herrick emphasized that the government failed to fulfill its commitments to establish proper reception facilities, referencing longstanding promises to transition from the direct provision system to more comprehensive State-provided accommodations. He noted that the absence of these reception centers has exacerbated the current crisis.
Addressing the State’s obligations, Herrick stated that claiming an unforeseen emergency is untenable, given the predictable nature of the situation. He pointed out that Ireland’s asylum application numbers are comparable to the European average, underscoring the necessity for the State to uphold fundamental rights.
Herrick also mentioned that the European Union’s Migration Pact will require Ireland to reform its current processes, a move he believes will garner widespread support. This discussion comes ahead of the IHREC’s upcoming three-year strategy launch.
In related developments, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan recently estimated that approximately 15,000 individuals will seek asylum in Ireland this year.
Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Niall Collins, acknowledged the State’s efforts to enhance support for unaccommodated asylum applicants. Collaborations with NGOs and homeless charities aim to provide essential services to those without housing. Collins highlighted that unaccommodated individuals receive a higher weekly allowance than those in State-provided accommodations during the processing of their applications.
Collins further emphasized the significant investment in migration management, including the recent designation of certain countries as ‘safe,’ which has led to an increase in initial application denials. He also mentioned plans to establish a dedicated migration unit within the court system to expedite appeals.
To address the housing shortage, the Department of Justice intends to develop at least six large-scale accommodation centers in the near future.
