Aspects of direct provision centres ‘must be addressed’

The Government should demand that private companies provide “humane” accommodation to asylum seekers given it is paying them €43m to operate direct provision centres.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission also said the Department of Justice must address “unlawful” aspects of direct provision centres, including intrusive “house rules”, and the absence of independent complaint procedures.

Chief commissioner Emily Logan said reform of the entire system — highlighted by last week’s report of the Working Group on Direct Provision — was entirely dependent on the enactment of the International Protection Bill.