Direct provision must be humane: Ó Ríordáin

Asylum seekers fleeing desperate circumstances in their home countries had their situations compounded by the experience of direct provision in Ireland, the minister responsible for New Communities conceded yesterday.

Speaking after a visit to two direct provision centres in Limerick, Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordáin revealed how he had met one asylum seekers who was “quite literally broken” by his experience.

“In terms of direct provision, the managers at the centres are doing their best. The main issues around direct provision are about the length of time but I have to say I met one man today and he is quite literally broken — broken by his experiences before he came to Ireland and it has been compounded by his situation here.