Fitzgerald’s statements on Direct Provision- the ‘continuation of an inhumane policy’

Governemnts Direct Provision policy is driven by state racism claims PBP TD Bríd Smith

In a statement, People Before Profit TD, Bríd Smith, has said that Minister Frances Fitzgerald’s claim that there is no alternative to the system of Direct Provision marks her ‘abysmal failure to deal with the issue following years of inaction by her party Fine Gael in this area’.

Deputy Smith also pointed out that the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights have labelled the system of Direct Provision in Ireland ‘a severe violation of Human Rights’.

This comes after former minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin had said previously that ‘the way we treat asylum seekers says a lot about us as a country’.

Deputy Smith said “These comments from the Minister for Justice are an affront to anyone who believes in equality and human rights. The scandal that is direct provision will one day join the Magdalene laundries, and the abuse of children in state and church run institutions as an example of our states contempt for the most marginalized and vulnerable. Minister Fitzgerald will be judged harshly by history just as are all those in power who failed to protect the past victims of institutional abuse”.

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