26 Ean 2015, 10:07
A delegation from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions will visit two direct provision centres in Galway and Limerick tomorrow Tuesday 27 January.
26 January 2015
The delegation will visit Great Western House in Galway City tomorrow morning, before travelling to Foynes, Co Limerick to visit the Mount Trenchard direct provision centre in the afternoon (see programme below).
The site visits follow a meeting in Leinster House with the a range of NGOs on the issue of direct provision in October, including the Irish Refugee Council, Anti-Deportation Ireland, Doras Luimní and SPIRASI.
Chairman of the Committee Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD says: “The Committee has been examining Ireland's direct provision system and the site visits on Tuesday will afford us a first-hand insight into the operation and functions of two centres. By engaging directly with management and residents of the centres, the visits will add to the Committee’s knowledge on issues such as the direct provision allowance, the quality of accommodation at the centres, the complaints process and the lengthy time spans in processing applications.
“As part of the process, we are intent on examining how the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman can be fully inclusive of the Direct Provision System, including the Appeals System and the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service as it relates to the Direct Provision System. As a Committee with responsibility for public service oversight, we are also keen that Freedom of Information Acts be made fully applicable, in all respects, to the administration of the Direct Provision Centres.”
While the visits are closed to the media, Deputy Mac Lochlainn and other members of the delegation will be available for media interviews before and after the visits.
For media enquiries contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Visit to Direct Provision Centres of Great Western House, Galway and Mount Trenchard, Co Limerick
Tuesday, 27 January, 2015
10:00 Meeting with Management in Great Western House and tour of the facilities.
11.30 Meeting with Reception and Integration Agency staff
12.30 Depart Galway for Mount Trenchard, Limerick
15.30 Meeting with Management in Mount Trenchard and tour of the facilities.
17.00 Depart Mount Trenchard.
Committee Membership
Deputies:
Richard Boyd-Barrett, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Michael Healy-Rae, Independent
Seamus Kirk, Fianna Fáil
Michael P. Kitt, Fianna Fáil
Pádraig MacLochlainn (Chairman), Sinn Féin
Helen McEntee, Fine Gael
Michelle Mulherin, Fine Gael
Derek Nolan (Vice-Chair), Labour
Patrick O'Donovan, Fine Gael
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
Sean Kenny, Labour
John Halligan, Independent
Jack Wall, Labour
Senators:
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Sinn Féin
Jimmy Harte, Labour
Tony Mulcahy, Fine Gael
Susan O’Keeffe, Labour
Ned O'Sullivan, Fianna Fáil