Ireland - May 2023

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, sent a letter to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman, and Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien regarding homelessness among asylum-seekers, requesting a “whole of government approach.” The Commissioner stated the country may not be complying with minimum requirements set under the European Convention on Human Rights, raised the issue of unequal treatment between Ukrainian and other asylum-seekers, and warned that the housing crisis could fuel growing anti-refugee sentiment. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar responded that there has been continued work to address the issue but admitted that the existing conditions “fall short of what is required.” Recently, there have been increased reports of asylum-seekers’ substandard living conditions and years of limbo due to the long waiting times for application decisions. The country has seen arson attacks on asylum-seekers and blocked roads to prevent them from accessing accommodation centers.

Sources: Irish Times, Council of Europe, Cable News Network, Financial Times