Government told time to act is now
Today a new website has been launched tracking implementation by Government of the key recommendations in the Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process launched at the end of July.
This is a joint initiative of the Core Group of Asylum Seekers, Children’s Rights Alliance, JRS Ireland, Nasc, SPIRASI and UNHCR, all of whom were members of the Working Group.
Speaking at the launch of the website www.timetoact.ie, Mr, Eugene Quinn, National Director, JRS Ireland said
The report of the Working Group will not serve its purpose to improve the protection process or to enable asylum seekers to live with greater dignity if it is not implemented. We are calling on the Irish Government to act now and to honour their promise to introduce a number of key recommendations by the end of July.
The organisations welcomed recent announcements by the Department of Education improving access to third level education and the Department of Health exempting asylum seekers from prescription charges. Deep disappointment was expressed that the Government has not approved a single recommendation dealing with the length of time issue, which is the primary concern articulated by Direct Provision residents and a principal reason for which the Working Group was established.
An infographic has been produced by the group to highlight the key recommendations requiring urgent implementation:
