Latest news with #internationalProtection
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Eight international protection accommodation contracts terminated in first four months of 2025
Seven International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) contracts with commercial accommodation providers were ended in the first four months of the year for reasons including noncompliance with planning, fire safety and other regulations, the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, has said. More than 90 per cent of all international protection accommodation is provided on a commercial basis, with hotels, B&Bs and other centres taking up contracts to provide beds for people arriving in the State seeking asylum. This reliance on private providers led to the Government spending more than €1 billion on international protection accommodation last year. The budget for this year is €1.2 billion. Concerns have been raised about standards at some private accommodation centres, which are not all subject to independent inspections. READ MORE Mr O'Callaghan has said his preference is for international protection applicants to be housed in State-owned accommodation. Figures released by his department in response to a parliamentary question from Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon show that between January 1st and May 7th last, eight contracts with private accommodation providers were terminated. This represented 140 bed spaces. The department said seven of the contracts were ended by the State side, with one terminated by the provider. 'I am informed that reasons for termination can vary but can include noncompliance with contractual terms or with regulatory requirements like building and fire regulations or planning matters,' Mr O'Callaghan said. 'In the same period, 12 new IPAS accommodation contracts have been agreed, accounting for capacity of up to 848 bed spaces.' [ International protection overhaul an 'important step' in wider reform, Minister says Opens in new window ] Mr O'Callaghan said the commissioning of emergency commercial accommodation 'will continue to be necessary' in the short to medium term, but it is being contracted on a short-term basis to allow the 'State to decommission this capacity with agility as contracts expire or demand fluctuates'. Mr Gannon said he had sought figures on the numbers of IPAS contracts that were ending following a media interview given by Mr O'Callaghan last month. Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, the Minister said 'many' of the agreements with private providers were 'now being terminated'. He said this was 'because if the numbers are going down, we don't need to have as many places for accommodation as provided before'. Mr Gannon said the figures released to him showed there had, in reality, been more contracts created than ended this year. 'So, far from winding things down, the system is expanding,' Mr Gannon said. While he welcomed planned reforms such as faster processing times for international protection applications, Mr Gannon said the fairness of the system matters 'just as much' as the speed of it. 'The truth is, Ireland is already failing to meet its legal obligations. In December, over 3,000 asylum seekers were left homeless,' he said. 'In April, the European Court of Justice confirmed that housing shortages are no excuse for denying basic care. We can't afford to play politics with facts, or with people's lives. The real issue isn't too many beds, it's too little planning, too much reliance on the private sector, and not enough focus on human rights and dignity at the core of the system.' In April, the Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner said IPAS centres had been the subject of six whistleblowing allegations last year. It said these centres were an 'emerging theme' for the office and it raised concerns about 'the lack of uniformity of the inspection regime' for them. The Department of Justice said: 'Owing to the protected nature of protected disclosures, the department does not comment on whether such disclosures have been made in any specific instance.'
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Eight international protection accommodation contracts terminated in first four months of 2024
Seven International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) contracts with commercial accommodation providers were ended in the first four months of the year for reasons including noncompliance with planning, fire safety and other regulations, the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, has said. More than 90 per cent of all international protection accommodation is provided on a commercial basis, with hotels, B&Bs and other centres taking up contracts to provide beds for people arriving in the State seeking asylum. This reliance on private providers led to the Government spending more than €1 billion on international protection accommodation last year. The budget for this year is €1.2 billion. Concerns have been raised about standards at some private accommodation centres, which are not all subject to independent inspections. READ MORE Mr O'Callaghan has said his preference is for international protection applicants to be housed in State-owned accommodation. Figures released by his department in response to a parliamentary question from Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon show that between January 1st and May 7th last, eight contracts with private accommodation providers were terminated. This represented 140 bed spaces. The department said seven of the contracts were ended by the State side, with one terminated by the provider. 'I am informed that reasons for termination can vary but can include noncompliance with contractual terms or with regulatory requirements like building and fire regulations or planning matters,' Mr O'Callaghan said. 'In the same period, 12 new IPAS accommodation contracts have been agreed, accounting for capacity of up to 848 bed spaces.' [ International protection overhaul an 'important step' in wider reform, Minister says Opens in new window ] Mr O'Callaghan said the commissioning of emergency commercial accommodation 'will continue to be necessary' in the short to medium term, but it is being contracted on a short-term basis to allow the 'State to decommission this capacity with agility as contracts expire or demand fluctuates'. Mr Gannon said he had sought figures on the numbers of IPAS contracts that were ending following a media interview given by Mr O'Callaghan last month. Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, the Minister said 'many' of the agreements with private providers were 'now being terminated'. He said this was 'because if the numbers are going down, we don't need to have as many places for accommodation as provided before'. Mr Gannon said the figures released to him showed there had, in reality, been more contracts created than ended this year. 'So, far from winding things down, the system is expanding,' Mr Gannon said. While he welcomed planned reforms such as faster processing times for international protection applications, Mr Gannon said the fairness of the system matters 'just as much' as the speed of it. 'The truth is, Ireland is already failing to meet its legal obligations. In December, over 3,000 asylum seekers were left homeless,' he said. 'In April, the European Court of Justice confirmed that housing shortages are no excuse for denying basic care. We can't afford to play politics with facts, or with people's lives. The real issue isn't too many beds, it's too little planning, too much reliance on the private sector, and not enough focus on human rights and dignity at the core of the system.' In April, the Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner said IPAS centres had been the subject of six whistleblowing allegations last year. It said these centres were an 'emerging theme' for the office and it raised concerns about 'the lack of uniformity of the inspection regime' for them. The Department of Justice said: 'Owing to the protected nature of protected disclosures, the department does not comment on whether such disclosures have been made in any specific instance.'
BreakingNews.ie
26-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Minister for Justice 'confident' Government will have 'vigorous' screening for migrants
The Minister for Justice said on Monday he is 'fairly confident' the government has or will in the near future 'vigorous' screening systems in help tackle the number of people illegally entering Ireland. Speaking to reporters in Limerick he said: 'I think we will be operating a very effective screening program once we enact and commence the International Protection Bill that I've got approval from government to draft, and it'll be brought into the Oireachtas at the end of the year.' Advertisement Minister Jim O'Callaghan said that the current 'Eurodac system', which assesses asylum applicants into Ireland will be 'upgraded' in June, to include 'a full biometric analysis performed in respect of any individuals who are coming in seeking international protection in Ireland'. Concerns were reported that because Ireland does not have access to certain EU security databases available in Schengen member states, it may not be able to carry out robust screening identity checks on asylum applicants. Minister O'Callaghan said Ireland was not part of Schengen because 'we want more robust systems in terms of protecting our borders'. 'I'm fairly confident that at present and certainly in the future, in June, that we will have very vigorous mechanisms in place to assess and ensure that we properly have information on individuals claiming international protection in Ireland,' he said. Advertisement Minister O'Callaghan said he previously visited the Eurodac screening system in place at Dublin Airport and found that all international protection applicants were 'fingerprinted', and are checked against Europol's watch list 'to see whether or not they have applied for asylum in other EU countries'. However, the Minister acknowledged 'there's an issue arising in terms of individuals coming down from Northern Ireland' to the Republic. He warned: 'Our systems have to become much stronger as time goes on.' While Ireland is a welcoming country for people 'fleeing persecution', the minister added, 'we need to have a system in place that ensures our security is properly preserved'. Advertisement Michael Gaine Seperately, he said he was 'very disturbed' to hear body parts belonging to murdered farmer, Michael Gaine had been found on Mr Gaine's farm, at Kenmare, Co Kerry, last Friday, eight weeks after he was declared missing. The minister would not be drawn on whether he shared concerns growing in Kenmare in respect of how gardaí have so far handled the probe. 'I was very disturbed to hear that some of the body parts that were identified are those of Michael Gaine, and I just want to express my condolences to his family in respect of that very traumatic development.' Minister O'Callaghan said he was being 'kept updated on it by the Garda Commissioner' but said, 'I'm not going to start getting involved in talking about that investigation. I'm going to leave policing investigations to An Garda Síochána, it's not my job to get involved and start directing them or commenting on their investigations.' Advertisement Ireland EU engaging 'sensibly' with US administration foll... Read More 'All I would say is I would appeal to anyone in the area who has information in respect of the murder of Michael Gaine that they would provide that information to the gardaí.' Meanwhile, following the publication of crime statistics, Minister O'Callaghan said he had a 'simple message for the Garda Commissioner and senior garda management - I want to see more gardaí out on the street'. Asked what his plans were to reduce the number of people carrying and using knives in public, he replied: 'I was worried about the increase in those figures over the past five to six years or so.' 'The gardaí obviously have to do their job in terms of seizing knives which are being carried unlawfully. But also, we as politicians need to send a message out that it's unacceptable for young men, and I regret to say, boys as well, to be carrying knives. It's unnecessary for them to carry a knife.'
BreakingNews.ie
14-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Injunction move over protests outside asylum centre suspended
A High Court injunction application over protests against improvement works at an 18th-century mansion in Kildare - housing some 93 female international protection applicants - has been suspended following a separate dispute over the planning status of the building. On Wednesday, Mr Justice David Nolan adjourned the injunction application relating to protests outside Ryevale House in Leixlip with liberty to re-enter. Advertisement This means the injunction application is no longer urgent but could be revived if circumstances change. The protests began after works began in March to improve water pressure for the three-storey mansion which is in the middle of some 200 houses in Ryevale, Leixlip. In March, the owners of the house, ME Liberer Unlimited Company, obtained an interim injunction preventing a number of residents from interfering with Irish Water (Uisce Éireann) contractors carrying out works to improve water pressure at the building which has accommodated the international protection applicants since March 2023. The court heard Irish Water had said, after the protests began, that work would not continue given concerns for the safety of the contractor's workers. Advertisement On Wednesday, when the case returned to court, Niall Handy SC, for ME Liberer, said it appeared, however, the protests had ceased because the defendants had been told by Irish Water that they would not be upgrading the supply because of the planning status of the building. His client believes it is exempted but An Bord Pleanála had found works at the property were not exempt. Counsel said this was not the issue when these protests started, counsel said. In circumstances, Mr Handy said there was no need at this stage to move the injunction and his side wrote to the defendants asking that in the event the water workers return that the protests would not resume. The defendants were however seeking that the injunction be heard, he said. Advertisement Rory Kennedy BL, for the defendants, said the position was that Irish Water requires, as part of any application for works, that the applicant state that there is compliance with planning. Questioned by the judge about the alleged blockading of workers by residents, Mr Kennedy said his side did not accept what the plaintiff was claiming. There was an issue yet to be decided as to whether this was a lawful protest or an illegal blockade, he said. Ireland Murder accused Richard Satchwell cut dressing gown... Read More He said his clients are all over 70 and they wanted it to be pushed on to hearing. Mr Justice Nolan said while the defendants were over 70, they were not elderly. He (the judge) was approaching that age "and I don't regard myself as elderly". Parties in cases don't seem to understand that court time is precious, and it is not for the defendants to demand that the case be heard. It would be a waste of time depending on what happens in the future, he said. He adjourned the case generally with liberty to re-enter it should circumstances change.
