Customs officials visited premises in April 2019, before it became a direct provision centre, as soliticitor says in mitigation that hotel was 'a defunct, chequered, white elephant'

The Committee heard that there were weaknesses in the direct provision system prior to the pandemic, with centres at almost 100% capacity

Covid-19 outbreaks in "vulnerable" accommodation centres where asylum seekers live in shared spaces should “act as a catalyst” to end the direct provision system, a priest in the midlands has said.

The 32 residents of the Skellig Star direct provision centre were visited by  Department of Justice officials.