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Hannah Komdwe (2) at a direct provision protest in November. Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Anti-Deportation Ireland: ALL members of asylum reform group should resign

Sue Conlan says the group has not been fully consulted on new legislation.

Updated: 15.38

THE CEO OF the Irish Refugee Council has resigned from the government’s working group on the protection process – which was tasked at examining issues such as direct provision.

Sue Conlan has sent a letter of resignation to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and junior minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, who has responsibility for direct provision.

In it, she criticises the justice minister for publishing the heads of the International Protection Bill on Wednesday, without allowing the working group to have seen them first.

Conlan said the legislation represents the “most significant changes in refugee law in Ireland for almost twenty years”, since the Refugee Act in 1996.

“Given the importance of the bill, which contains much more than a single protection procedure, it is difficult to understand why the decision was taken to withhold it from the working group. It is an opportunity lost and may well make passage of the bill through the Oireachtas more difficult as matters that could have been ironed out in the working group will now need to be brought in to the party political arena.”

Conlan said the group, which commenced work in November 2014, “entered into this process in good faith and did everything possible to make it work”.

We feel that to carry on with the process goes against the best interests of the people in the protection system now and those who will come to Ireland seeking protection in the future. We have real concerns about the direction of the new bill and need to work to ensure that its main emphasis is protection and not deterrence.

Speaking on Morning Ireland, Conlan said she expected direct provision to be addressed in the bill, but said there is “no mention” of it.

When it was put her that the Department of Justice had briefed the group on the bill, she said this wasn’t the case, noting its members were “told some of what was in and some of what was out” but were not given a “clear overview”.

She added that Fitzgerald “needs to be a little bit more hands on as opposed to leaving it to her officials to make headway”.

Irish Refugee Council Reports Sue Conlan Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Speaking on Wednesday, Fitzgerald said the bill will “enhance our capacity to efficiently grant international protection to those who are entitled to it” and “achieve the desired balance in treating asylum seekers with humanity and respect while at the same time ensuring more efficient immigration procedures and safeguard”.

‘Regrettable’

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said Conlan’s decision to resign was “regrettable”.

While there have been differences of views expressed by representatives on the sub groups and within the overall plenary group on various matters all parties have been working extremely hard on producing proposals and papers on various issues, with a view to formulating recommendations to be made to government on what improvements should be made to the state’s direct provision and protection process and to the various supports for protection applicants.

The spokesperson added that the International Protection Bill was “discussed at a number of meetings of the sub group examining what improvements can be made to the existing protection process”.

He said it was not possible to share the draft heads of the bill with the working group members as they were “still in development stage and hadn’t yet been submitted to the minister or government for approval, department officials provided members with a clear overview of the draft scheme and the proposed single procedure and answered any questions that working group members had in this regard”.

“Now that the general scheme is published there is an opportunity for interested parties to provide any comments to the department on the proposal.”

The chair of the working group, Dr Bryan McMahon, also said Conlan’s resignation was “regrettable” as members are currently engaged in “a crucial stage” of deliberations.

It is unfortunate that the IRC could not continue to work within the group and contribute to a final set of recommendations to government aimed at showing greater respect for the dignity of those in the protection system and improving the quality of their lives as required by our terms of reference.

“There are of course views of varying shades among the membership but I am more than satisfied that all members are genuinely engaged in the task at hand, namely identifying a set of recommendations to government for improvements that will bring tangible benefits to existing and future applicants,” McMahon said.

Anti-Deportation Ireland welcomed Conlan’s decision, saying it “should have come sooner”.

The organisation encouraged other members of the working group to do the same, stating that the body “does little more than provide a veil of legitimacy for the government as they implement their regressive refugee policies”.

Originally published: 10.37am

Read: The scars that brought us to Ireland: Asylum seekers on the violence that made them flee

Watch: “We have a love affair with incarcerating people in Ireland”

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85 Comments
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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:28 AM

    ‘I want my own bedroom’….??
    at that age, I shared a room with 3 brothers.
    the ‘entitled’ attitude of these people never ceases to fascinate me.
    Anyway, the direct provision system will not be changed, – there are too many political cronies making big bucks from it.

    352
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    Mute Live Long
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:45 AM

    They have some brass neck no question, they’ve got a chip on their shoulder after coming here and finding the “land of milk and honey” ended and they’ve got the short stick compared to their cronies who preceded them some years ago.

    269
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    Mute Pat Kavanagh
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    Mar 27th 2015, 12:08 PM

    The short stick?

    -Free clothing.

    -Free accommodation.

    -Free school supplies.

    -Free food.

    -Electricity bill taken care of.

    -Heating bill taken care of.

    -Free sky/upc tv.

    -Free entertainment classes.

    -19 euro tax free at the end of a week.(Id be delighted if I had that at the end of the week after paying for bills and food.)

    -Somehow enough cash to run a car, which is VERY hard if not impossible to do on 19 quid a week.

    Doesn’t sound like the short end of the stick to me?

    330
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    Mute Live Long
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    Mar 27th 2015, 12:57 PM

    I was referring to the Celtic Tiger when the irish luvvies were giddy with joy at having “new irish” and there was a housing boom to usher them into their 3 bed upon arrival. The chip in their shoulder is that they missed the boat when we weren’t as wise to this asylum con.

    160
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    Mute Eamon Mac Gowan
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    Mar 27th 2015, 6:11 PM

    I’ll bet that charities top up that €19 as well.

    45
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    Mute Leighanna Rose
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    Mar 28th 2015, 2:28 AM

    there are entire families in tiny rooms. why not visit a DP centre and look at the conditions they live in?

    1
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    Mute Ian Treacy
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    Mar 28th 2015, 8:38 AM

    Well said pat it’s outrageous really

    11
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    Mute Tommy Newman
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    Mar 27th 2015, 12:38 PM

    In the first three years of the 1990′s only 160 people applied to the Irish authorities for asylum. In 2002 the average was over 1,000 people per month!
    If you extrapolate from these figures that an increase in asylum seeking coincided with the Celtic Tiger boom years then you’re obviously a member of some far right Neo Nazi organization and have no place here.
    Please.
    Kindly leave the forum.
    Central to the peace process was a clause placed in the Irish constitution entitling everyone born on the island of Ireland to Irish citizenship. The intention was to allow Northern Ireland Nationalists to carry Irish passports.
    Over 10,000 asylum seekers, mainly of African origin availed of this loophole. Henceforth Nigeria shall be known as the 7th county of Ulster.
    The Department of Immigration acknowledged that more than 80% of female applicants were more than 6 months pregnant. Drop the kid in the Rotunda and PRESTO!!!! Call grandma and tell her the good news..she’s Irish now.
    Unfortunately ‘asylum seeking’ became a scam, a huge scam and genuine seekers suffered as a result.
    ‘Rights’ groups must have had an awareness of what was happening on the ground but if they did they certainly kept their mouths shut. Too much at stake methinks.
    We not only had an economic crisis in this country during the boom years. We also had a refugee crisis.
    We’re now left to pick up the pieces.
    As usual.

    346
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    Mute Sean Mac Diarmada
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    Mar 27th 2015, 2:56 PM

    Politicians f*ck up-and the taxpayers cough up-every time.
    It’s a total disgrace that these people are still flocking here from all over the globe, while old age pensions are being cut for our own who lived here and paid taxes all of their lives.
    Whether they are economic refugees or civil war refugees is beside the point.!

    203
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    Mute JournalStasi
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    Mar 27th 2015, 7:23 PM

    True there is no excuse for this mass-immigration craze.Our own have to compete with people who come here and see us as giving up our claim on this country, they come make their own communities and turn the areas they areas they are a majority, into the same places they purported to be “fleeing”. And they do this with an attitude of ownership, because they see us as giving away our territory, culture and identity.

    86
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    Mute JournalStasi
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    Mar 27th 2015, 7:46 PM

    How many immigrant groups who have no mandate from the Irish people but are funded by mega billionaires like Chuck Feeney, and George Soros who support the liquidation of European ethnicities in order to smooth their financial operations, are there in Ireland.

    We had Commissioner Curry from the racism-police ENAR (European Network Against Racism) now exposed as being linked to a mob of open-border extremists last week he took it upon himself to police, outlaw and stop a meeting of a pro-sovereignty Irish party from meeting, discussing and talking about many policies including immigration policy. While Commissioner Curry pushed his politics and open border agenda on everyone else.

    Here is racism-police Commissioner Curry, telling the Irish what to do, say and think, what meetings they can and cannot hold, Cromwell’s back.
    https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=853447548047505&permPage=1

    60
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    Mute Thomas Newell
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    Mar 27th 2015, 10:41 AM

    Would love to know how much money these do-gooder quangos cost the taxpayer. I think everyone who gives out about racism and allowing immigrants stay etc. should be forking out to keep things like this going and those at the top of it in their nice paid positions

    323
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
    Favourite Neal Ireland Hello
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    Mar 27th 2015, 10:52 AM

    These particular positions are unpaid.

    55
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    Mute TheJeff
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:48 AM

    Funny no Accounts on website ? or details on funding & spending… more jobs for for ex-arts students with the right connections. Which your funding or is that the “Immigrant Council of Ireland” the other organisation that does the same job.. most likely also funded by us, but then don’t have accounts either despite been a register charity ?… Why ?

    188
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    Mute Boganity
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    Mar 27th 2015, 12:05 PM

    Earwing Joe…the best and the worst of the journal in the one story

    6
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    Mute Boganity
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    Mar 27th 2015, 12:07 PM

    *earwig…feckin spell checker

    4
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    Mute Snorri Sturleson
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    Mar 27th 2015, 12:08 PM

    Gravy train expenses.

    118
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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Mar 27th 2015, 2:21 PM

    Are these facts or accusations?

    7
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    Mute JournalStasi
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    Mar 27th 2015, 7:26 PM

    1400 girls in 1 UK town of rotherham were gang raped and brutally beaten by pakistani muslims who targeted them because they were white, and all because people like IRC, MRCI and ENAR screamed racism to cow people into silence. Blood on their hands.

    70
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    Mute Irish Sceptic
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    Mar 27th 2015, 12:11 PM

    To be fair the whole asylum system needs to be overhauled. There are too many asylum seekers abusing the legal system by coming up with spurious points of law and chsallenging decisions in the court. These cases drag out for years during which time asylum seekers have children here which in turn provides them with additional grounds of appeal. The entire system needs to be streamlined so that the bogus asylum seekers can be thrown out of the country and the legit asylum seekers can be assisted. Any bogus aslum seeker who returns should be automatically deported again. They’ve had their chance. They shouldnt be entitled to another.

    Unfortunately this is most unlikely to happen because there are now too many vested interests. Litigation of asylum cases and european arrest warrants are the new cash cow for the legal profession so they’re not pushing for reform. Others are being handsomely paid to provide direct provision and the asylum rights groups are receiving nice grants so that everybody can be seen to be politicslly correct.

    The only people loosing out in the current asylum system are the genuine asylum seekers and the taxpayer

    275
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    Mute rory conway
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    Mar 27th 2015, 1:11 PM

    IRISH, assessment on arrival. Decision final.

    190
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    Mute Timber Planks
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    Mar 27th 2015, 2:01 PM

    Yep, Australia have it sussed!

    177
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    Mute JournalStasi
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    Mar 27th 2015, 7:23 PM

    Overhaluled?

    How about simply stopped.

    62
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    Mute Conor O' Halloran
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:47 AM

    Quango queen throws a strop when her advisory comittee doesn’t get to vet and veto democratically elected representitives. I’m actually surprised she had a strop to throw as I assumed that we live in a Quangocracy rather then a democracy anyhow.

    271
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    Mute Denis Maher
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:19 AM

    And some extra socialising money, and a brand new allowance so they can import food from abroad because they don’t like the free food we give them. Also they should be entitled to individual legal PSV licences with insurance paid for by the state.

    239
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Mar 27th 2015, 4:32 PM

    Many come here wanting to play the social welfare system and many were living in their own countries being paid the dole from here for a long long time.
    Also some are that arrogant here that they are actually racist to the people who live here and pay taxes for their welfare, what about that? Why is that not called racism too?
    Also many non national doctors here are not fit to be doctors and some treat nuns and nurses here with contempt, why is that ok to do. Even from experience some doctors here do not know the basics and in my case used Wikipedia to read the symptoms rather than be able to read my file?
    Also outside Drogheda there were gangs of non nationals who were criminals using the same children to be passed around families in order to collect the child support from, some children were getting multiple child support.
    The same with white goods and buggies, non nationals were playing the welfare system to buy goods that they later sold on after getting the best first in those lines of goods.
    You will get good and bad in everything but the welfare system was bias in favour of non nationalists who played the system…

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    Mute Jon Gripper McKee
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    Mar 27th 2015, 6:44 PM
    36
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    Mute Leighanna Rose
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    Mar 28th 2015, 2:28 AM

    “racist to the people who live here”

    how does that even work? you can’t experience institutional discrimination as a white irish person living in ireland.

    it’s not called racism because 1) You’re probably making it up, being a thinly veiled racist and 2) It doesn’t go both ways – you don’t experience oppression for the colour of your skin.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Mar 28th 2015, 12:53 PM

    Leighanna, I have seen this personally when those from mainly Africa nations has a go at an Irish person expecting the Irish person to be subservient to them because back in Africa others in the area where they lived were subservient, thinking they owned the place and the people about.
    A relation of mine was verbally attacked a few weeks ago by an African man for sitting in a restaurant by himself waiting on his mother because they wanted the table he was at and he is 10.
    I have seen Africans and Arabs letting loose on women, I have seen an Africa verbally attack an old woman for no reason at all once and I have seen Arab doctors letting loose on nurses and nuns in a hospital over nothing but racism and a hatred of women. Many who come here take their own racism and prejudices from their own culture with them.
    Anyone can be a racist from any race as well as having a hatred of women but to think that immigrants to here can not be racist towards the Irish is just liberal hogwash. You get good and bad in everything and you can not paint everything with the same brush but to deny that it exists is just crazy. How do you thing the ghettos in the U.K. form, racism can cause that but the way those who immigrated to the U.K. and later joined ISIL only proves that ISIL recruits racists and they have recruited more from Ireland than from any other European country.
    http://www.thejournal.ie/irish-people-isis-brian-hayes-1880745-Jan2015/

    33
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Mar 28th 2015, 12:59 PM

    Have you been brainwashed into thinking only white people can be racist as anyone can be a racist or has the P.C. Squad just scared people into denying reality because you get a name for speaking the truth, as I have said there are good and bad in everything including people and a few should not be seen as the whole but it is crazy just to ignore it and to say it doesn’t happen as it does.
    Your two points are wrong as for one I have never been a racist ever and two anyone can be a racist because when a person of any race has a hatred or detest of another based on their race then that is racism, why can you not see that?

    23
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    Mute F.man
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:01 AM

    At least if they travel in the free car Jimmy they won’t be taking up two seat on the bus or train. So that would be a plus.

    99
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    Mute CorkBoi
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    Mar 27th 2015, 2:58 PM
    68
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    Mute Eamon Mac Gowan
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    Mar 27th 2015, 6:18 PM

    It’s so sad that the country is flooded with bogus refugees, we should only be helping genuine cases.

    60
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    Mute JournalStasi
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    Mar 27th 2015, 7:27 PM

    We already do, we send more than €670 million a year to 3rd world countries. We should not be allowing mass-immigration on top of this

    58
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    Mute Denise Friary
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    Mar 27th 2015, 10:46 AM

    I think the direct provision system should be abolished and the refugees get houses as soon as they apply for asylum…We will be a better society if we treat the refugees fairly.

    53
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    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
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    Mar 27th 2015, 10:55 AM

    Yeah and lets not make sure they’re genuine either. Sure if there aren’t enough houses they can just have mine. Although my house is a nice bit out from town so they should get free public transport, no, a free car. They’ll need a car to get to the doctors too, but we couldn’t possibly expect them to pay for the doctor either so we better lash in a medical card too. Maybe we should have someone on jobsbridge pop in one a day to feed the fish and pick up the post while the Asylum Seekers go on holiday back to the very place they thought they were in mortal danger.

    324
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    Mute Top Cat
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    Mar 27th 2015, 10:59 AM

    How do many of then end up here? Are there any direct flights into Ireland from Africa?

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    Mute mammy
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:00 AM

    Don’t forget the jobbridge solicitor to work their b0110cks off at the tribunal.

    164
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    Mute Denise Friary
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:04 AM

    Jimmy you must remember the refugees come here for our protection and care. Most Irish people are kind and generous so don’t be negative.

    36
    Lolo
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    Mute Lolo
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:05 AM

    Are you kidding Denise? We can’t house the homeless of our own citizens as it is!!!!

    297
    Eric
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    Mute Eric
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:08 AM

    Jasus, if you don’t see that she is trolling, you have no business using internet forums.

    153
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    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:12 AM

    Sorry Eric, late night calving. Nothing suprises me on here though.

    93
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    Mute Josephine Carroll
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:13 AM

    @denise think your forgetting all irish people on waiting lists for houses and your saying give immigrants a house when they apply for asylum???? Are you having a laugh??

    170
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    Mute Anne Marie Devlin
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:17 AM

    @Denise. Direct Provision is not a good method at all, but in case you haven’t noticed, we have a housing crisis. 700/800 non-asylum children living in temporary accommodation. We don’t have houses to give to anybody

    147
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    Mute Denise Friary
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:17 AM

    Lolo the refugees are a desperate problem because they come from war zones and are very poor and in bad health..I also feel sorry for our homeless we need to house them as well.but I really feel for asylum people

    22
    Lolo
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    Mute Lolo
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:18 AM

    Actually Eric I think she genuinely means that which is worse!

    136
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    Mute trickytrixster
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:18 AM

    Jimmy Jim Jim comment of the week

    69
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    Mute Lorna Leonard
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:26 AM

    Eric just because you disagree with Denise you call her a troll, I think your the troll at least Denise has a heart.

    20
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    Mute The Dude
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:54 AM

    @Denise – Please tell me you are not that naïve!

    108
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    Mute Shane Devereux
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:58 AM

    what are you smoking

    74
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    Mute Bill Madden
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    Mar 27th 2015, 12:03 PM

    @ Eric. …..Funny!!!!

    34
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    Mute Dave J
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    Mar 27th 2015, 2:12 PM

    you are f***ing fdelusional denise. IF you feel bad for them why dont you let some stay in your house? If life is so bad for them dodging bullets they would be grateful for a couch & the odd sandwich.

    91
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    Mute Niall
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    Mar 27th 2015, 2:16 PM

    Maybe a Nigerian prince might pay towards the cost of these houses.

    98
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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Mar 27th 2015, 2:17 PM

    Not everyone trying to claim refugee status either deserve it or should be granted it. I’m going to assume you’re trolling Denise because if not, you’re just delusional.

    79
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    Mute Deco James Connolly
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    Mar 27th 2015, 2:31 PM

    Have you a couple of spare rooms , I’m sure they’d feel very fairly treated living with you .

    58
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    Mute Deco James Connolly
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    Mar 27th 2015, 2:34 PM

    Illegally from the north and on unchecked coaches from the uk.
    I met a guy from Khazakstan who told me he got here unchecked through the eu via train , coach snd subsequently through Rosslare.

    67
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    Mute Niall
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    Mar 27th 2015, 2:48 PM

    Over 90% are proven scam artists. They are using resources and negatively affecting the goodwill that should be shown towards the genuine cases.

    91
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    Mute Paul Maguire
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    Mar 27th 2015, 3:59 PM

    Meanwhile back in the real world, wouldn’t be nice to hand out to all Asylum Seekers that who would come here, why go anywhere else when the Irish are soft. And then we have the Irish themselves who are they you may ask they where once native people of Ireland now forgotten, many on the streets on homes, many families, having to relying on food banks, and I could go on and on.

    66
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    Mute Eamon Mac Gowan
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    Mar 27th 2015, 6:16 PM

    @Denise Friary
    You’re a charlatan Denise.

    36
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    Mute John Kennedy
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    Mar 27th 2015, 6:19 PM

    He already has, and all I have to do is send him on my bank details

    18
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    Mute Eamon Mac Gowan
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    Mar 27th 2015, 7:16 PM

    Oh dear, did nobody get my pun/sly dig at the immigrant council.

    21
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    Mute JournalStasi
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    Mar 27th 2015, 7:31 PM

    How many people whom we know nothing about have come here and murdered or raped an Irish person, your support of leaving our front and back door open to our ethnic home, means you have blood on your hands, Denise Friary.

    38
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    Mute jim bob
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    Mar 27th 2015, 7:31 PM

    @Denise Frawley grow up and stop being so patronising. You are entitled to your view but you are just one person , one voice you shouldn’t presume to speak for everyone else. So less of the attempts to silence legitimate concerns just because it suits your agenda. If you want to take that approach I suggest you run for public office on a manifesto and see how you get on.

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    Mute Eamonn Colfer
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    Mar 27th 2015, 10:27 PM

    I don’t think a person is a refugee if they cross 6 or 7 safe countries to get to Ireland.

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    Mute John Walsh
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    Apr 9th 2015, 2:57 PM

    No give us cheap oil for looking after Nigerians .

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    Mute Ray Farrelly
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    Apr 21st 2015, 8:51 AM

    And how many are murderer’s and rapist’s drug dealers ect they come here with no documentation so we have no way of knowing

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Apr 21st 2015, 9:04 AM

    Pretty sure none of the children who have died are any of the above Ray.

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    Mute Ray Farrelly
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    Apr 21st 2015, 11:40 AM

    I agree but i was talking about bogus asylum seekers already here

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    Eric
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    Mute Eric
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    Mar 27th 2015, 11:29 AM

    Lorna – She is a troll, and you are an idiot. She would say something negative if it meant getting a reaction. Christ, your stupidity is lowering the bar for humanity.

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    Mute Luke Evans
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    Mar 27th 2015, 2:31 PM

    all asylum seekers own 60 inch flat screen TV’s and are given a brand new car on arrival into the country everybody knows this

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    Mute John Ferry
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    Mar 27th 2015, 3:18 PM

    And every one knows your an idiot

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    Mute JournalStasi
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    Mar 27th 2015, 7:30 PM

    No, but they do have access to community welfare Exceptional needs payments, which can pay for any of the above if a case is made for it, for example, poor eyesight or the case of having to have a car, because they suffer abuse and racism on public transport.

    Exceptional Needs Payments

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    Mute Leighanna Rose
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    Mar 28th 2015, 2:29 AM

    ^ the majority of them don’t get anything like that.

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    Mute John Walsh
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    Apr 9th 2015, 2:50 PM

    They do drive cars look at the numbers outside asylum centers and many are not destitute .

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    Mute Eamonn Colfer
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    Mar 27th 2015, 10:27 PM

    Direct Provision should remain. However I agree its wrong for people to be spending 10 years+ on it. The solution is not abolition but rather, shortening of the avenues of appeal. It is because of solicitors dragging out the cases that people are on DP so long. The legal profession should put the country first. As if that will happen remember the cost of the Tribunals…

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    Ruth
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    Mute Ruth
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    Mar 27th 2015, 2:16 PM

    Did any of you actually read the article or do you have some sort of inbuilt ‘rule’ that triggers off your out and out racist hatred once you see the words; asylum or refugee, mentioned. The majority of which is total and ignorant myopic hyperpole.

    SHAME shame on Ireland, the land of the eternal economic refugees.

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    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
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    Mar 27th 2015, 6:18 PM

    Ruth,
    Your last sentence says it all for me – ‘Ireland being eternal economic refugees’.

    However none of those coming here claim to be economic refugees, they are all seeking either asylum or refugee status here – something the Irish have never done.

    ( PLEASE PLEASE don’t start referencing the famine as it is irrelevant to today)

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    Mute JournalStasi
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    Mar 27th 2015, 7:35 PM

    The Irish going to countries we built and fought for, and have an ancestral link to, and who are European, western in origin, mindset and culture, and thus by going to them we do not change them. You cannot compare that to Africans and Asians coming here changing the very nature and population out of character and all recognition of what the Irish are, red-herrring comparison.

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    Mute John Walsh
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    Apr 9th 2015, 2:52 PM

    You should take some in on the rent a room scheme .

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Mar 27th 2015, 2:15 PM

    What I don’t get about the whole process is how we seem to have failed for so long. We’re an EU member state – but simply haven’t handled this situation.

    By handling it, there are multiple pay offs – pretty much any move to address the numbers of and time spent by people in direct provision is a win/win situation whether you look at it from a financial or what many like to paint as the “bleeding heart liberal” point of view.

    We need to be real about this and deal with this. In my view (which many will call the “bleeding heart liberal” one) – the only way to deal with this is from a humanitarian perspective.

    But that perspective is not to say “come one come all” – if people are abusing the system, they destroy it for those who have a genuine need. So in dealing with the spoofers, those with genuine need can get the help they need. In doing so, there is an economic pay off also. Countries who are host to any number of refugees are taking on a burden – there’s no need to add to that burden by not dealing with those who are abusing the system.

    It seems very strange to by-pass a working group in putting out a report.

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    Mute John Walsh
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    Apr 9th 2015, 2:44 PM

    The numbers who get leave to remain is on average 1000 a year after a refugee application has failed.This is a better option than refugee status only 88 last year. They are not really in need of protection and use any means possible to stay having children being one. When leave to remain is granted they can get family reunification and have a better status in this regard than an Irish citizen . The Irish citizen of course has to pay taxes for this !

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    Mute Eamonn Colfer
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    Apr 1st 2015, 10:59 PM

    Fair play to the govt for keeping Direct Provision for now. I sympathise with people on it for 10 years but that is because of the stupid legal system with its endless, statefunded appeals.

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    Mute F.man
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    Mar 28th 2015, 10:09 AM

    Oh dear someone doesn’t like the truth.

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    Mute Joe Odiboh
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    Apr 15th 2015, 3:01 AM

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    Joe Odiboh shared SA Nigerians’s photo.
    8 hrs ·

    XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
    This is what South Africans of all people in Africa are currently doing to Nigerians and foreign black African brothers and sisters in South Africa, chasing them about, killing our own black people from Africa, burning and looting their shops and properties in a show of shame, petty jealousy and national disgrace. Imagine how the white people, colored people and Asians will see the black people in South Africa, creating an environment of intolerance, instability and insecurity of lives and properties. What a shame to the people and government of South Africa. The hopes and dreams of Nelson Mandela have been grossly betrayed.
    SA Nigerians’s photo.
    SA Nigerians‎NIGERIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA & FRIENDS FORUM

    I am done talking. Let the picture do the talking. Let our conscience judge these actions.
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    Joe Odiboh Please everyone, share this post and condemn this evil until the world bring South Africans to their right senses and be aware of this xenophobic bokoharamship in their reign of terror towards our African brothers and sisters who helped them to fight f…See More
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    Mike Cerutti Osagie what do they want? who can cage them???????
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    17 hrs ·
    Silence is Golden: reflections on the Working Group’s “vow of silence”
    On 10th November 2014, the Working Group on the Protection Process had its first meeting. The Chair, Dr. Bryan McMahon, asked members to give an undertaking not to disclose the content of discussi…
    sueconlan.wordpress.com
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    Joe Odiboh OSMOSIS OF GOLDEN SILENCE: Silence they often say is as golden like gold plated brass. Yet I know that a stone that is seen coming does not blind one’s eyes. We cannot live in fear of silence but determined to stand strong and firm in our resolve to thread where the angels fear to dare. I have stated emphatically and made it crystal and abundantly clear from the empirical perspective that Mohammed Ali a great boxer does not fight his battles outside the ring. Great warriors, kings and elderly statesmen and women do not fight their battles to better mankind hiding under their closet. Nelson Mandela did not fight for freedom and democracy at the comfort of his home. He left his wife and children, abandoned his family and community, and spent his life in Robben Island behind the bars for 27 years for what he strongly believed in. He and many others sacrificed their lives for what tomorrow would bring for their fatherland.

    Considering all these, the government or Justice Department set up a Working Group on the Protection Process to help seek ways and means to better the lives of asylum seekers in this country. These members of the working group were believed to be the best brains and NGO’S and members of the government department and people placed with the responsibility of doing the government and asylum seekers proud. The confidence on them is strong and the pride in them is very great. As Chairman of Globe House Residents Union, member of the core group for asylum seekers in Irish Refugees Council, I have personally had the privilege of knowing Sue Conlan and working with her and other wonderful people as Caroline, Stephen Nganga, the great Emily, and other volunteers in the Irish Refugee Council. We love their passion and hard work to set asylum seekers free from the unholy unhappily that hold us in bondage and in limbo.

    I have also seen the tears in the eyes of the Minister of State in the Justice Department, Mr. Ó Ríordáin who is a very honest man and who is more sympathetic to the good welfare of asylum seekers in this country and who is the “Moses” sent by God and determined to lead us to the promised land more than those in some NGO’s who are pretending to represent our interest and shedding crocodile tears, and knowing that they are the parasites who feed and live on our sorrow and tears in the Direct Provision System. The Minister of State O’ Riodain is a very good man who personally made strong promises to me and my people in Sligo. We believe in his promises because he is a man of grace, a man of his words and of deeds. I seriously believe in him because he is an honest and dedicated man who can be likened to President Barrack Obama of the United States.

    In addition, I am one of those among other asylum seekers privileged to make decisions and suggestions in attendance at some sessions of the Working Group and plenary sessions and to address members of the Working Group and other visitations and representations. I have had the opportunity of meeting every member of the Working Group and most importantly those in RIA, and The Chair, Dr. Bryan McMahon of the Working Group in the Protection Process. My contributions and that of my colleagues and many others have made an impact and very fruitful in the entire process. I must confess that members of the Working Group are doing their utmost best without fear or favor and without bias. Whether any member is biased or not does not matter. Everyone has an interest to protect in human transaction which by nature is a human phenomena. In every human transaction, there is always a loser, and someone must play the fool in other to reach to an agreement. They are working free and fair to create a balance between the good, the bad and the ugly situation we are in as asylum seekers in the direct provision system of institutionalized living process.
    My confidence in them and the government is very strong. They cannot be said to be perfect, but they should be given the chance to do their utmost best with hope that the justice department will meet them half-way to better our lives and help renew our hopes and dreams. It is important to note that the issue of silence and its golden nature, and the leaking of information to the press and the general public at this stage is not a bad thing in any way. It has helped to generate public debate and awareness. Furthermore, it has helped to renew the hopes and dreams of asylum seekers in this country. My people are now convinced that the government and the Working Group are doing something meaningful to better our lives. The statement by the Minister of Education regarding our welfare is commendable and should be praised. It is a sign of goodwill and should not be a thing that should generate any negative impact by anyone or lead to unnecessary acrimony or malice. What is good is good. The problems faced by asylum seekers is not a personal issue or that of self ego. It is as real as ice, and we are the victims who suffer from day to day and from year to years. Our families and those back home are negatively affected by this dismal situation which brings no one no good.

    I do not blame Sue Conlan for resigning her membership of the Working Group because it made headlines in news bulletins and further strengthened the resolve of the Working Group and the government to do the right thing. It was strategic. However, Sue has a choice to belong or not to belong to the Working Group. Her Choice is personal and does not represent our individual choice or feelings. Whether or not she belongs or no-longer belongs to the Working Group does not mean we must all belong to where she belongs. It does not mean we must resign because she has resigned. We are not flocks of sheep in the field. She has made her choice, and we also have a right to make our choice. Her choice belongs to her and we commend her for making a noble choice. We appreciate her and sincerely respect her choice. But her choice cannot become our choice. Even if the Irish Refugee Council decides not to allow us to hold our core group meetings in Irish Refugee Council or sponsor us in this mission because Sue has resigned from the Working Group, we will not give up the struggle. We shall not relent. The struggle continues.

    We as asylum seekers must not resign from the Working Group because this is our fight, this is our plight, this is our problem and not her problem. We are the ones at the receiving end. We must continue the struggle we have started until our children are free and no-longer live in bondage as second class citizen of this great nation. Until that day when we shall arise and shine, and contribute to make this country the greatest nation on earth, we shall not backslide, we shall not relent, we shall not waver in our commitment to reach the promised land.

    This we must do constructively and with determination and belief that together we can make a better tomorrow for all in this country. We must cooperate and have a constant dialogue with the powers that be and create a simple understanding that all men are born equal irrespective of our color or race, where we come from or our social status in society. We must believe in the Justice Department to do the right thing for all. We must believe in our leaders and the Irish people and knowing that time heals all wounds. The time is now. We will continue to work and dialogue with the Working Group and the government to bring about that which is morally just for all our people. In God we must trust to set us free.

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    Mute Direct Provision 15
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    Mar 27th 2015, 10:38 PM

    sm need to learn more about political parties, they can build a bridge where there’s no a river #DirectProvision

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