<p>
	Direct provision system criticised for imposing isolation, boredom and lack of control</p>
<p>
	Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has signalled that any revision of Ireland&rsquo;s immigration laws would be unlikely to result in asylum seekers being allowed to work here as such an arrangement would be contrary to international norms.</p>
<p>
	Ms Fitzgerald said she intended to approach the issue of direct provision - where an asylum seeker can spend up to nine years waiting for a decision on their application - through a single procedure, outside of broader immigration legislation.</p>
<p>
	She conceded that living on &euro;19 a week, the sum given to adults in &ldquo;reception centres&rdquo;, was a &ldquo;very difficult system for people&rdquo; but said allowing them to work was a complex question.</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;In terms of work, countries take a different approach to that. But generally speaking it is quite strict in relation to asylum seekers,&rdquo; she said on the Tonight with Vincent Browne programme on TV3 last night.</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;It is a very complex issue to move towards work for asylum seekers. I am prepared to examine the issue but if you look at international practice, it does not go in that direction generally speaking for asylum seekers.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
	Her comments follow those of her recently appointed Minister of State Aodh&aacute;n &Oacute; Riord&aacute;in who said in an interview with the Irish Times that reform in the area was a priority.</p>
<p>
	Mr &Oacute; Riord&aacute;in described the issue a major concern and in need of radical reform.</p>
<p>
	The direct provision system of care for asylum seekers has been criticised for imposing isolation, boredom and a lack of control over meals for those placed in centres.</p>
<p>
	Ms Fitzgerald said last year 1,000 asylum seekers arrived here, compared to about 80,000 immigrants who came legally from outside the EU.</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;We have a huge obligation to those people,&rdquo; she said.<br />
	&ldquo;So in terms of the right to work you have to take into account your own economic circumstances; you have to say what&rsquo;s right for our own country.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/asylum-seekers-unlikely-to-be-allowed-to-work-says-fitzgerald-1.1876787">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/asylum-seekers-unlikely-to-be-allowed-to-work-says-fitzgerald-1.1876787</a></p>
