Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
83. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps being taken to ensure that residents of direct provision centres are being advised of their right to vote in local elections in 2019; the way in which contact with candidates will be facilitated in order that residents can engage fully with the democratic process. [16543/18]
View answerMy Department, through the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA), has always facilitated and encouraged the registration of and voting by protection applicants in local elections.
The general policy in relation to local elections has been to allow candidates to drop off election leaflets which could be placed in a common area in the centre where they could be picked up by residents. Candidates can provide, on the leaflets, contact details or times of political meetings outside the centre that residents can attend.
Given the particular nature of the accommodation provided in centres, there are a number of factors that would deter unrestricted access by candidates to the living quarters of residents. These include, the communal nature of the accommodation system; the desirability that they operate in a politically neutral environment; the many practical and logistical difficulties that would arise for centre managers in providing unsupervised access in circumstances where families and children live together.
This general policy ensures that there are no restrictions placed on residents’ voting rights, or on their rights to access whatever information candidates wish to convey to them, or on any rights to meet with candidates, albeit outside centres. It also ensures privacy in the residential units and the on-going protection of children in the centre.
There is however an opportunity for the newly established Friends of the Centre group at each centre to disseminate information to residents on how to register to vote and on the importance of local government within the political structure of the State as well as the responsibility of exercising a franchise where it has been recognised. The Friends of the Centre groups have the added benefit of sharing information and raising awareness about voting, in a informal way. Closer to the election date, the Friends of the Centre groups will be encouraged to communicate with residents on this important issue.
