Fiona Finn

10 results

Direct provision had been intended to last no more than six months but instead morphed into one of institutionalised living ‘that will last for many international protection applicants for many years’, the justice committee was told. File photograph: Tom Honan
Justice committee hears calls for abolition of direct provision

The system of direct provision was condemned for breaching human rights, negatively impacting on children and destabilising families at an Oireachtas (...)

Syrian families are seen in Damascus countryside in October 2013. File photograph: Khaled al-Hariri/Reuters
Government calls for Irish communities to sponsor refugee families

The Department of Justice will today announce the launch of the new community sponsorship initiative encouraging villages, towns and parishes across I(...)

The Immigrant Council has indicated its preference is for asylum seekers to be granted the right to work at six months, which is commensurate with the timescale for deciding on asylum applications. Photograph: Getty Images
Immigrant rights organisations say ruling is ‘unqualified good news’

A ruling by the Supreme Court that a ban on asylum seekers working is unconstitutional has been hailed as “unqualified good news” by immigrant rights (...)

Yemen Red Crescent workers look for remains of Saudi-led airstrikes victims in a funeral hall in the war-torn capital, Sana’a. Photograph: Yahya Arhab/EPA
Visa requests from Yemen, Eritrea and Iraq most likely to fail

Applications for a visa to enter Ireland originating from Yemen, Eritrea and Iraq are the most likely to be refused, figures obtained under the Freedo(...)

Walk to mark World Refugee day to take place in Cork

Participants in a solidarity walk for refugees in Cork city on Sunday will carry old pairs of shoes to signify the numbers of people who are currently(...)

Bryan McMahon, chairman of the working group on direct provision, said those in the system were ‘hollow men and women with scooped out personalities and moving like zombies in some cases’. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill / The Irish Times
Minister rules out amnesty for asylum seekers in direct provision

The Minister of State with responsibility for refugees has ruled out a blanket amnesty for those who are in direct provision for five years or more. (...)

The Eglinton Hostel direct provision centre in Salthill, Galway. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
Bill changes will block reunification of refugee families, group claims

The number of people coming to Ireland as a result of the refugee crisis could be significantly less than the 20,000 that has been suggested, because(...)

Asylum-seekers from Iraq await registration at a centre in Giessen, western Germany, December 2nd, 2015. The International Protection Bill, currently before the Seanad, could see asylum-seekers being swiftly deported from Ireland after a “cursory examination of their applications”, according to Sue Conlon of the Irish Refugee Council. File photograph: Boris Roessler/AFP/Getty Images
Proposed law may see asylum-seekers swiftly deported - IRC

Proposed legislation on the asylum-application system should be withdrawn rather than rushed through the Oireachtas as is currently happening, a numbe(...)

Alan Shatter: had a strained relationship with the judiciary
New asylum regulations ‘will speed up application process’

The Government has introduced new procedures aimed at speeding up the processing of 3,800 asylum seekers ’ cases. Regulations came into force today th(...)

Asylum seekers and human rights supporters protesting outside the Dáil against the direct provision system earlier this year. Photograph: David Sleator
State paid private firms €60m to house asylum seekers last year

Private operators who run hostel-style accommodation for asylum seekers received €62 million from the State last year.The system has been widely criti(...)