Comments by President Michael D. Higgins on asylum system reform attracts widespread attention.
The President has questioned why reform of direct provision did not feature more prominently in discussions during the formation of the government.
The McMahon report, published last year on reforming the system, recommended a one‑off amnesty for any asylum seeker who has spent more than five years in direct provision. Judge Brian McMahon made a series of recommendations affecting around 5,000 asylum seekers. These included reducing processing times and improving living conditions within the system.
While the Programme for Government includes a commitment to reform direct provision, with a particular focus on families and children, it does not contain an explicit pledge to implement the McMahon Report recommendations as quickly as possible. Speaking to The Irish Times, President Higgins described those proposals as reasonable and practical, saying they would represent significant progress.
The president is not alone in criticising the Programme for Government. Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said it is galling that government ministers continue to block reforms to the direct provision system. The Department of Justice, however, insists the government remains fully committed to implementing the recommendations of the McMahon Report. Nevertheless, President Higgins’s intervention in what are traditionally seen as government matters has raised eyebrows. Political scientist Professor David Farrell of UCD says the president has a history of speaking out on issues he considers important. He adds that President Michael D. Higgins is following a recent tradition set by his predecessors by stretching the boundaries of the office of president.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 21 May 2016. The reporter is Sandra Hurley.
