Taoiseach Simon Harris has insisted that Ireland will maintain its position of empathy when handling the matter of the increasing numbers of individuals seeking asylum in the country. “Given the sensitivity and understanding amongst the Irish citizens due to their personal histories of migration, it is fundamental to keep reminding ourselves that every individual seeking protection here is a human being with genuine needs”, he stated.
During his address at Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, after participating in the National Famine Commemoration ceremony, Harris made a comparison between the hardships faced by Irish people during the Great Famine and the current plight in Gaza. He stressed that the lessons learned from the nationwide catastrophe of the Great Famine should be utilised worldwide to prevent such miseries from happening elsewhere and to assure international peace and harmony.
The Taoiseach pointed out the importance of a structured approach in managing the immigration process, observing that the existing situation required a more sustainable solution than constant emergency responses.
In relation to direct provision accommodation, Mr Harris acknowledged the complexities of the situation and emphasised that this should not solely be viewed as a shelter-related issue. He added, “We have an earnest legal commitment to provide shelter to people in need. We are taking our responsibilities quite seriously and will increase our capacity to meet these needs in the forthcoming days”, underlined the Taoiseach.
Nevertheless, he emphasised that it’s crucial to consider all available options to transition from an emergency migration response, which he believes is justifiable but not viable long-term, to a more effective situation. “We came to an agreement in Cabinet last Tuesday that in the next six weeks, various Ministers would evaluate a variety of supports regarding individuals seeking international protection. They will analyse how our operations line up against other European nations – are there areas in which we need to improve or are we diverging in certain areas?”, he asked.
Approximately five to six thousand individuals currently reside in direct provision accommodation with legal status. They’ve deservedly earned the right to live in this country and possess the right to work. It’s likely that many are already employed and contribute significantly to our society.
However, he also raised two valid questions: How long an individual can stay in direct provision accommodation and how they are expected to contribute financially towards this. These matters will be included in the forthcoming review.