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Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

High Court case could be a 'step towards ending Direct Provision system'

The Irish Refugee Council has welcomed the High Court’s decision to grant leave to a family to challenge the system which it says operates at a ‘huge financial and human cost’.

THE HIGH COURT has granted leave to a family of asylum seekers to challenge Ireland’s Direct Provision system.

The decision has been welcomed by support groups with the Irish Refugee Council declaring it a step towards ending Direct Provision entirely.

“We hope that this will be another step towards ending Direct Provision and replacing it with a reception system that meets the needs of refugees at a reduced cost to the Irish taxpayer,” the group said in a statement.

“Direct Provision has operated for the last 13 years at a huge financial and human cost,” added CEO Sue Conlan.

The challenge has been taken on the grounds that Direct Provision – which sees applicants granted €19.10 per week, on top of accommodation and three meals a day – is unconstitutional.

The High Court heard arguments that the system violates rights to family and private life as the families are excluded from social welfare payments.

The family argues that the system has no legal basis, was unlawfully established and is operating in a legal vacuum. They also believe that forbidding asylum seekers both from working and from receiving social welfare payments violates the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Anyone requesting asylum in Ireland is placed into one of 35 direct provision centres around the country, where the average length of time spent in the centres is about four years.

The case will begin on 4 November.

Read: Immigrant Council call for clear procedures for stateless people in Europe

Shatter: “It is misleading to call Direct Provision inadequate”

Related: High Court case on whether direct provision is unconstitutional may take 2 weeks

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116 Comments
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    Mute Patrick Agnew
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    Jan 13th 2020, 7:33 AM

    Leo is giving a presentation called “The Black & Tans… history’s most misunderstood peacekeepers”

    433
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    Mute Matthew O'Kane
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    Jan 13th 2020, 12:41 PM

    @Patrick Agnew: no one in the comments has mention that arlenes leverage is gone boris johnson has a majority now the only thing that will come from the UK is cuts, austerity and privatisation thats nearly as bad as the Tans usually kills way more too

    101
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    Mute John kane
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    Jan 13th 2020, 2:31 PM

    @Matthew O’Kane: She was thrown under the bus by him but still happily willing to pose for a nice smiley photograph. Spineless muttt

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    Mute Billy McNamara
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    Jan 13th 2020, 3:00 PM

    @John kane: Borris tells porkies to suit his agenda.Now he’s where he wants to be all those he made promises to will be phobbed off.Idiots to have believed “one who is economical with the truth” in the first place.

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    Mute Seamus McLaughlin
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    Jan 13th 2020, 4:44 PM

    @Matthew O’Kane: On first read of your comment l read it “Arlene’s cleavage is gone…” lol

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    Mute MiseBean
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    Jan 13th 2020, 7:54 PM

    @Seamus McLaughlin: not lol – just immature.

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    Mute KJmadra.
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    Jan 13th 2020, 8:49 AM

    Question is will Leo shake Michelle O Neills hand.

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Jan 13th 2020, 11:46 AM

    These two plonkers make me laugh as they meet to shake hands and steal the glory from the hard painstaking work of Simon Coveny and Julian Smith.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jan 13th 2020, 7:54 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: Well he is the leader of the political party i.e. FG who claim to have steered Ireland off the rocks and back to the sweetly run machine that it is today.

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    Mute nicknack
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    Jan 13th 2020, 11:50 AM

    Boris trying to grab Arlene from under the bus after he pushed her under,Arlene must know her motherland don’t care about her and her creatures anymore,unionism is dying

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    Mute Jim Buckley Barrett
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    Jan 13th 2020, 1:19 PM

    @nicknack: That would be hard for him to do as Boris is also driving the bus ;)

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    Mute Paul Quirke
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    Jan 13th 2020, 7:50 PM

    @Jim Buckley Barrett: schrodinger’s Johnson in every sense of the word!

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    Mute David Clements
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    Jan 13th 2020, 8:05 AM

    Now they’ll really start earning their money…

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    Mute Fred the Muss
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    Jan 13th 2020, 11:50 AM

    What a way to start a wet windy Monday, having to talk to those two.

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    Mute jerry slattery
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    Jan 13th 2020, 1:45 PM

    Does anyone in Sinn Fein work they appear to be on social media night and day going on with the usual gibberish . Knocking on doors lads is the way to win elections

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    Mute john doe
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    Jan 13th 2020, 2:27 PM

    @jerry slattery: Perhaps their job IS promoting the party on social media? I know FFG pay people to do this.

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    Mute Billy McNamara
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    Jan 13th 2020, 5:01 PM

    @john doe: They never???

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    Mute Conan Campbell
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    Jan 13th 2020, 9:21 PM

    @jerry slattery: Good man Jerry, top class discourse. I work all day from my home office running my own business and doing a good job at it. Occasionally I look at comments section and participate in favour of my political leanings. I’m voting SF.

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    Mute Rúraíocht
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    Jan 13th 2020, 7:56 AM

    Leo vs Bertie? Garett vs Charlie?

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    Mute Michael Lynch
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    Jan 13th 2020, 9:07 PM

    @Rúraíocht: All four are mutually exclusive.

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    Mute Keith Mac Suibhne
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    Jan 13th 2020, 7:59 AM

    A pair of incompetent buffoons due to meet a bunch of crazed uncontrollable sh¡té throwing monkeys. Not a portent for a newsworthy story.

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    Mute Tomàs
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    Jan 13th 2020, 10:25 AM

    @Keith Mac Suibhne: Whatever one might call Johnson he’s not that… as for the other fella

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    Mute CJ Stewart
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    Jan 13th 2020, 12:00 PM

    @Keith Mac Suibhne: If it wasn’t for some of them so called sh¡té throwing monkeys forcing changes and standing upto the British attitude towards Ireland in the past perhaps , then they would all only be shaking Boris Johnson hands and that same buffoon would be telling you what to do…. Eaten bread is soon forgotten.

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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Jan 13th 2020, 1:57 PM

    There’s f all in the kitty could be the main reason for Boris fiscal silence

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    Mute Matthew O'Kane
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    Jan 13th 2020, 12:42 PM

    no one in the comments has mention that arlenes leverage is gone boris johnson has a majority now the only thing that will come from the UK is cuts, austerity and privatisation. The North is gonna face some horrible tory gouging

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    Mute Angela McCarthy
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    Jan 13th 2020, 1:25 PM

    @Matthew O’Kane: calm down Matthew. They all know what their facing. Those tory cuts and indeed the future Brexit fallout might indeed tax the minds of citizens -including unionists and perhaps the focus might turn back to where it inevitably will – a border poll and a shrinking unionist majority.

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    Mute Dom Layzell
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    Jan 13th 2020, 8:15 PM

    @Angela McCarthy: Well I hope you’re right on the Border poll Angela, hurry up with it, and hopefully there will be a 32 county Ireland soon.

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    Mute Brian Moore
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    Jan 13th 2020, 6:59 PM

    The DUP abandoned Borris when he needed support, he was willing to shower them with cash to get it.

    Now he doesn’t need the north for anything it will see nothing but cuts going forward.

    The DUP are glad to be back in stormont and on the mews because they have become less relevant in the world than ever before.

    Tough time’s ahead for NI as the easy cash will dry up and cuts will need to be implemented.

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    Mute Jim O Brien - TechBuzz Ireland
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    Jan 13th 2020, 2:42 PM

    Leo part 2 hide and seek champs

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    Mute Roy O'Rourke
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    Jan 13th 2020, 7:03 PM

    A billion pounds?? They’ll be lucky if he bungs them a voucher for iTunes. Here’s your bus lads..

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    Mute Angela McCarthy
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    Jan 13th 2020, 4:48 PM

    There you have the first tory cut – cutback on information around funding.

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    Mute Dom Layzell
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    Jan 13th 2020, 8:20 PM

    @Angela McCarthy: Well hopefully when they have the Border Poll, and there’s a 32. We wont have to worry about the Tory cuts? That would be good?

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    Mute Anne Kerins
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    Jan 13th 2020, 7:40 PM

    He probably thinks will swing the election for him

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    Mute Paddy Doherty
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    Jan 13th 2020, 4:40 PM

    Great photo of the four on the steps of stormont. Boris and Michelle o Neill could pass as bother and sister!!

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