One in five in direct provision for at least seven years

More than one in five people kept in the direct provision refugee system have been there for at least seven years, an Oireachtas committee heard.

Equalities Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said the system needed urgent reform and he expected an expert group to make shake-up recommendations within weeks.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett warned the group had lost credibility after the Irish Refugee Council withdrew from it as he called for an apology to be made to people kept in direct provision.