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ASYLUM SEEKERS, REFUGEES, and human rights supporters are among those gathering today to send a message to the government that the Direct Provision system needs to be overhauled.
They will gather at events around the country, in Dublin, Cork, Tralee, Limerick, Castlebar and Galway as part of a national day of action to end Direct Provision. The Irish Refugee Council is coordinating the day.
Dependent on the State
Sue Conlan, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council, said that people in Direct Provision are “forced to be dependent on the State, year in year out, with no control over their lives and no opportunity to work or make significant decisions for themselves, let alone their children”.
She said that at the end of this, “they are deskilled and demotivated and then face an enormous challenge to integrate and become self-sufficient after so many years of dependency and social exclusion”.
It is difficult to understand why the authorities maintain this system when the evidence of the human, financial and social cost is clear.
This afternoon, two current residents and one former resident of Direct Provision will address a gathering outside Leinster House, before marching to the Department of Justice. Five children from Direct Provision centres across the country will present their personal messages to the Minister for Justice.
At the events in Cork, Limerick, Tralee, Galway and Castlebar, messages will also be sent to the Minister.
System
Former Supreme Court Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness commented:
As a society we cannot allow this system to continue. For years we have been learning about the abuses and harms inflicted on vulnerable people in Ireland’s past in unregulated, poorly monitored institutions where profit was valued over humanity. It is unspeakable that this is still happening today to a very vulnerable group of children, men and women.
Conlon told TheJournal.ie that the lead-up to this campaign began last September, when they published a report that questioned if Direct Provision conditions amount to child abuse.
Conlon said that she believes some people think Direct Provision has ‘gone away’ while others think there aren’t issues with it. She said there is a lack of information around DP and what it is really like, and that there could be an alternative to it.
The IRC advocates a model of reception that is based on support for asylum seekers during their initial months in Ireland, including medical assessments, social workers and legal providers. After six months, if people’s asylum applications aren’t processed, they could then move to self-catered accommodation and be given the right to work.
Conlon said this would give people some control over their lives, so whatever happens to them, they can adapt.
She said that she believes the issue is not on the government’s agenda, which is why the IRC is “forcing it onto the agenda”.
Conlon said that for the good of all people in Ireland, asylum seekers or not, the government “cannot afford to ignore this”.
The IRC held planning days with asylum seekers recently, which it hopes is the start of something new where they will get to work together and speak about about their situation.
The Council is calling on the Government to sign the EU directive on reception conditions, as Ireland is one of only two countries that has opted out of this. It is now the only EU country which does not permit asylum seekers to work after a designated period.
Another great gone, RIP George
@Lance Taylor: must give that a watch today.
Rip George, I might grill a few sausages for breakfast, in your honor.
@brian o’leary: sausage egg bacon cheese and mushrooms all place in a baguette then pressed in the Georgie! Yes sireeee
Down goes Frazier, down goes Frazier, down goes Frazier!! Get chills when I think how easily Foreman beat prime Joe Frazier, who himself had beaten Ali and was thought unbeatable! Absolute legend of the sport!
Sad news, great boxer and a great guy by all accounts.
Tough as nails, rest in peace sir.
Watch ‘When We Were Kings’. The days when the title ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’ actually meant something.
@Me Me: “Champions forever” is a little older but a hell of a watch too. Probably on YouTube
@Me Me: that’s one of the greatest sport documentaries ever
Any man that beats Joe Frazier twice is some man! To come back from Zaire the way he did was inspirational, and to win a world title 17 years after that was the stuff of fairytale. RIP George, one of the very best.
A great guy. RIP.
A true legend. Both in and out of the ring. RIP
I remember watching the Moorer fight, he was 20 years younger than George and had an unbeaten record, but still ended up on the deck.
Good old George great boxer and a gentleman many a toastie I had on your machine, lovely man
R. I. P. Champ.
I watched a film about his life on Netflix recently. RIP
Rest in Peace… True Legend
Poor children of Gaza. Ethnic cleansing before our eyes. Same on us as human race. History repeating!
@Brian O’Connor:
Shame on you for using the death of a boxing legend to make a political statement.
@Brian O’Connor: take a day off Brian, this is about a boxing legend not your soapbox.
Ah no absolute savage in the ring pure humble gentleman outside it . If I remember correctly won his last heavyweight title in his forties against shannon briggs. Another legend gone, RIP big man.
RIP Big George. Thank you for the memories. Sleep well.
And yes RIP George. Hopefully now looking down and put stop to killing of innocent civilians in Gaza, Ukraine, Russia and many innocents of Africa. What has this world come to. Anne Frank doesn’t need a diary .. she needs a phone . I wonder has anyone read her book. Has anyone read “my struggle” by that evil man, it’s so ironic ! I see it both ways and what’s going on now is devils holocaust without the fire. the most ….. that suffered now put their suffering on .,.,,, Jesus weeps today. It’s a shame if a true American president of peace was true he/she would call a halt now to death of innocent children. Shame on US saying soldiers killed on open fields but not a word of children born and unborn laying dead in mothers arms or dying in mothers womb because the vessel has died. I am for freedom and protection. Same on us as a world of supposing humanity. Same on us. As da Vinci said “I open my arms, my legs for world all to see, only you can draw perfection or imperfection” same on us as a human race. A world of love is needed right now ! Has there ever been a time in history of love.? I think Anne Frank is hoping some day.
@Brian O’Connor: time and a place{champ}
@Brian O’Connor:
Jesus Christ , is nothing sacred.
You forgot about the innocent people murdered by Hamas.
@Phillip Smyth: Normally I’d agree however try reading the article from a bit earlier labelled Palestine, a report from an English doctor at an A&E during the recent attack by Israelis…deeply disturbing! Needs to get highlighted everywhere at every opportunity.
@damien leen:
Rest in peace George Foreman.
@Thomas O’Brien: So you condone this response by Israel? This is Genocide you absolute muppet. These people are being bombed out of existence. They were dumped into Gaza, described by outsiders as an open air prison after they had their lands illegally taken off them & and when they fight back this is what happens!
You are Irish yes? Do you have any clue of Irish history?! Armed resistance, armed struggle…
@Brian O’Connor: wtf is actually wrong with you? Are you related to Sinead, the header of this low grade rag?
@damien leen:
7th of October ring a bell.
@damien leen: so normally you don’t agree when legends die to highlight your platform, so your selfish and foolhardy.
@Phillip Smyth: Toughen up a bit you child!
Poor ol’ George. He was one of the good guys. RIP.
Ahh bless him!. I’ll always have a little piece of him in my kitchen ….rest in peace George ps thanks for the yummy toasties!!
What a loss such a legend, RIP
Remember watching him win the world title at 45. I thought 45 was so ancient. 47 year old me regrets such thoughts
Oh what a boxer ,thanks for all the memories, and love and respect to your family and friends
Rumble in the Jungle. I will.never forget it. RIP Sir. Say hello to Mo when you get there.
@Oh Mammy: Muslims can’t get into christian heaven, apparently.
An icon of the sport.. Rest easy George.. A true legend and gentleman. Followed his career and interacted with him on Twitter .. feels like I knew him personally.
What a great great man..Rest in Eternal Peace.
R.I.P. George.Another Legend Gone.
God love anyone trying to trace that family tree in the future.
5 sons, all named George.
A brick wall for future family historians
A Boxing colossus that returned to the ring in his 40’s to win it again. Truly amazing. RIP.
Would have reigned for 10 years if not for ali
I actually think that George Foreman was the greatest boxer to ever step into the ring. His granite chin was simply unmatched and he had the most powerful punch out of any of the big boxers. To retire and then come back to become the heavyweight champion at 45 showed this. Foreman demolished every fighter that he came up against and had a reputation for being one of the most decent and kind individuals in professional sport. I’m also indebted to him for the Foreman Grill, it really helped me lose weight. RIP George Foreman, you will be missed.
A brilliant man George inside and outside the ring what he did for the young people in Texas with a hard upbringing was inspiring, that is why George came back to boxing in the eighties to help them because what money he had made was gone. A legend rip George you will be sparring with Ali and Fraser in heaven
@Kieran Horgan: Ali was a Muslim who rejected jesus . Can he get into christian heaven?
A fantastic athlete. Just a question, how did he name his daughters? Georgina?
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