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The Direct Provision system for asylum seekers is an imperfect system \u2013 but not inhumane, Leo Varadkar has said.<\/p>\nThe Direct Provision system for asylum seekers is an imperfect system \u2013 but not inhumane, Leo Varadkar has said.<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach said more consultation needs to be carried out with communities following protests in Ballinamore in Co Leitrim and Achill Island \u2013 where two accommodation centers for asylum seekers were set to open.<\/p>\n
Speaking at an Immigrant Council of Ireland conference in Dublin on Wednesday, Mr Varadkar said immigration brings challenges, but the benefits outweigh them many times over.<\/p>\n
\u201cDirect Provision is an imperfect system but I do not believe it is an inhumane one. We have yet to come up with a better system but we are open to finding alternatives that are viable and affordable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn recent weeks, we have seen some of those challenges in communities across the country. If people fear that their community, their identity is under attack, they will respond in ways that we can understand.<\/p>\n
“Too often, the sad reality is that the alternative is what happens in France and Greece and Italy which are camps and containers and I am determined we never reach that point in Ireland.”<\/p>\n
He said the Government is seeking input from Ireland\u2019s migrant community on improving standards in Direct Provision and that newer centers have higher standards.<\/p>\n
\u201cNewer accommodation offers own door, self catering accommodation and that is exactly what we want to have for everyone as everyone should have their own door and be able to cook and prepare their own food,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Varakdar criticized the recent protests being held against direct provision centers.<\/p>\n
\u201cToo often, and I have to say it does concern me \u2013 is that we see people opposing accommodation centers in their neighborhood or blocking migrants from moving into the local hotel under the guise of humanitarianism and opposition to Direct Provision,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said the government is working to engage with communities where direct provision centers will be placed \u201cto show how their town or village or parish will be enhanced enough diminished by the arrival of newcomers\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt\u2019s never said, but I think it is worth saying. There are no protests at communities that already have accommodation centers. The fear evaporates, when people meet the reality, and particularly when they meet people who are that reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we need to engage better with communities and listen to respond to their concerns. That has to be done by government. That\u2019s our responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar also warned against those from the far-right who are coming to communities where direct provision centers will be placed to stoke up dissent.<\/p>\n
\u201cScaremongering needs to be called out by those who seek to exploit local concerns for their own political, personal, or in some cases, racist reasons,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also said the government \u201cstands firmly against illegal immigration\u201d into Ireland.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cIt should not be a controversial thing to say but apparently it is sometimes \u2013 that you support legal migration and you don\u2019t support illegal immigration.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will step up our efforts to stop people being trafficked illegally into Ireland by gangs and also those who seek to enter Ireland unlawfully no matter how small that number might be.\u201d<\/p>\n