Immigrant detention already in place, say Jesuits

TÁNAISTE Michael McDowell’s controversial proposals on immigration this weekend disguise the fact that he already presides over an established detention policy, a leading refugee welfare organisation has said.

In recent years thousands of asylum seekers have been housed for up to 50 days each in detention facilities at Cloverhill prison and Dóchas House in Mountjoy.

The director of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice Fr Tony O’Riordan said the current system was inappropriate.