Call to deal with asylum system ‘big ticket items’

The “big-ticket items” that could have substantially improved life for asylum seekers in Ireland have still not been addressed, three years after a seminal report recommended numerous changes to direct provision and the level of support available.

Bryan McMahon, who chaired the working group that compiled the report, said it remained the case that asylum seekers had to wait an inordinate length of time for their applications for refugee status to be processed.

Moreover, a recommendation that asylum seekers be allowed access to the labour market after nine months had not been followed through by Government.