Asylum Policy

At the Irish Refugee Council, we advocate for best practice reception conditions that recognise and safeguard the dignity of people seeking protection set out under the European Union Reception Conditions Directive (RCD). 

The RCD aims at ensuring better and more harmonized standards of reception conditions for people seeking protection throughout the European Union. It provides a framework for an asylum system with the minimum dignified standards of living for all recipients of reception conditions including access to housing, food, clothing, healthcare, education for minors and employment as well as the provision of adequate information and mainstream services. 

Despite the RCD coming into force in Ireland in 2018, little has changed in practice. Our report The Reception Conditions Directive: One Year On found Ireland failing to meet legal obligations for, in particular:

• No vulnerability assessments are place for people with special reception needs
• 936 people seeking asylum are living in emergency accommodation and struggle to access adequate services and support 
• Although 30% of the adult population of Direct Provision has been employed or self-employed, significant barriers to work remain

The report also contains recommendations for improvements in service delivery and the vindication of rights for people applying for international protection in Ireland including: 

• Ending of Emergency accommodation as soon as possible with the urgent removal of all children from EA 
• Those currently living in EA to receive full access to material reception conditions including healthcare, food, the DEA as well as points of contact for assistance services 
• Provision of information to all recipients on their rights and entitlements as well as what to expect while living in Ireland and in Direct Provision accommodation 
• Immediate issuing of the Temporary Residence Certificate by the International Protection Office
• Provision of Legal aid for reception appeals 
• Vulnerability assessments for all people seeking asylum carried out within 30 days with particular protocols for care in place for those suffering with serious mental health issues 
• Establishment of an inter-departmental taskforce to oversee of the implementation of the regulations ensuring the State lives up to it’s 47 legal obligations under the RCD
• Greater engagement at EU-level on reform of the RCD and the Common European Asylum System(CEAS)

In line with the our strategic objectives, we continue to monitor and push for the full implementation of the RCD holding Ireland to account while continuing to present sound research and constructive solutions to bring about positive change for all those seeking protection in Ireland.

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