Department vetoes President invite to asylum centre event

A plan to invite President Michael D Higgins to visit an accommodation centre for asylum seekers was cancelled after the Department of Justice refused permission for the event on the grounds of "logistics and safety".

Athlone Community Radio had issued an invitation to Mr Higgins to be interviewed last Thursday by asylum seekers at a direct provision centre on the outskirts of the town.

While the President’s office is understood to have responded positively to the request, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) – a Department of Justice agency responsible for the direct provision system – said it was unable to authorise the event.

“The event was organised and an invitation was issued directly to the President’s office without having first received permission from RIA to host the event in the centre in question,” the agency said in a statement.

“While RIA would always look to facilitate such occasions, there were logistical issues as well as safety issues which could not be addressed in the time allowed.”

It added that the agency and Aramark – a contractor that operates the centre on behalf of the State – would review the feasibility of hosting the event, if requested, at a later date.

An Áras an Uachtaráin spokesman declined to comment except to say the President hoped to visit a direct provision centre shortly.

The Athlone accommodation centre – a large mobile home park on the edge of the town – is home to 250 people from asylum-seeking families.

It is one of five centres where there have been protests in recent weeks at living conditions or delays in processing asylum applications.

Mary Lennon, manager of Athlone Community Radio, said she was disappointed the event could not take place but understood some of the concerns. She said the station had always received permission for broadcasts and training at the direct provision centre in the past.

“We were going to have local musicians and maybe some local poets. For our volunteers, who include asylum seekers, it would have been a great opportunity to meet our President,” she said.