• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Students protest Ireland’s poor treatment of asylum seekers during visit by prime minister

Bryan Wall by Bryan Wall
3 May 2019
in Global, Trending
Reading Time: 3 mins read
162 10
A A
0
Home Global
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Students at the University of Limerick (UL) protested against the poor treatment of asylum seekers during a visit by Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar on 2 May.

“Inhumane” system

Varadkar was visiting the university with finance minister Paschal Donohoe. Both men were at the university to give an update on Ireland’s national development plan for 2040. Members of UL Student Life, the “representative body” for UL students held a silent protest. The students were highlighting the continued use of ‘direct provision’ by the government to house asylum seekers. Direct provision is the system under which asylum seekers are given accommodation while awaiting a decision on their asylum applications. UL Student Life welfare officer Lorcan O’Donnell described direct provision as “not fit for purpose” and “inhumane”.

Protesting direct provision

On Twitter, UL Student Life asked if direct provision will be part of Ireland for the next 20 years:

 

Is Direct Provision Apart Of Ireland 2040? 🤷‍♂️

Our Student Officers organised a silent demonstration against the direct provision system today to greet An Taoiseach @leovaradkar & Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform @Paschald

— UL Student Life (@UL_StudentLife) May 2, 2019

O’Donnell said:

We are here today to… express our anger at the direct provision system. We feel the system is not fit for purpose. It’s inhumane. It strips asylum seekers of their dignity and respect.

And discussing the history of direct provision, he also pointed out that:

It’s a system that’s been here for 20 years. It’s a system that has consistently oppressed asylum seekers for 20 years. And we’re not going to stand another 20 years of it.

Failing asylum seekers

Some of the protesters also wore tape over their mouths. This was to highlight the fear that many people living in direct provision have of speaking up:

Students wore duct tape on their mouths to symbolise those that live in direct provision’s fear in speaking up in case it would negatively affect their asylum application.

More to Follow #ulstudentlife #studentvoice #advocacy #directprovision #ulstudentsagainstDP pic.twitter.com/rB4mLGwNLq

— UL Student Life (@UL_StudentLife) May 2, 2019

Although the students did not get to meet Varadkar, Donohue did speak to them. O’Donnell explained:

He came over and spoke to us. He did make a comment that he thought Ireland was doing quite well in terms of its integration projects.

But O’Donnell replied, arguing:

I can tell you from first-hand experience from speaking to asylum seekers and from speaking to refugees that may not be the case, in terms of there maybe not being enough of them or it’s not being rolled out well enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z5KOxXWDg4

Later on, the president of UL Student Life, Ciara Jo Hanlon, met with Varadkar. She gave him a letter from Irish student groups calling on the government to find an alternative to direct provision:

https://www.facebook.com/ulstudentlife/photos/a.172649662786/10156812523922787/

Ending the system

Direct provision is controversial in Ireland. As The Canary previously reported, many people living in direct provision wait years for the government to process their applications. The government also gives them a weekly allowance of only €38.80, an increase from the previous figure of €21.60 but still very low. Often, the accommodation itself is unsuitable and cramped.

What’s more, there have been a number of attacks on buildings earmarked as direct provision centres. And recently, residents in a direct provision centre staged a protest over their treatment by management.

Many people spend years in limbo while in direct provision. Some of them are fleeing persecution and war. And with this in mind, the government must either improve direct provision or get rid of it.

Featured image via UL Student Life (used with permission)

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Police filmed shooting at protesters in one of Africa’s ‘most stable’ Western-backed democracies

Next Post

Tories won less than half the vote but took every seat on this council

Next Post
Theresa May

Tories won less than half the vote but took every seat on this council

National Trust sign with crime scene tape

Campaigners say the National Trust's new hunt management team have provided 'nothing of worth'

Confused woman holding up balls saying 'YES' and 'NO'

Local elections with 30% turnout prove Brexit should be harder/cancelled

Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs

That’s it. Corbyn is done with antisemitism smears and the 'stress' they’re causing Jewish people.

Caroline Lucas

The local elections prove the Greens are a credible left-wing alternative

Please login to join discussion
Another DWP pensions scandal hitting women is "the biggest of modern times"
Analysis

Another DWP pensions scandal hitting women is “the biggest of modern times”

by Steve Topple
14 May 2025
An open letter from Jewish people calls out the Board of Deputies for stifling criticism of Israel
News

An open letter from Jewish people calls out the Board of Deputies for stifling criticism of Israel

by The Canary
14 May 2025
Image via Zkiah Smith of Greenwich council flats
Analysis

Greenwich council at the centre of a growing fire safety scandal in block of new flats

by HG
14 May 2025
dyfed pension fund actually has over £200m invested in Israel
News

Welsh pension fund has more than 180 times the investments in Israel it claims, so campaigners are taking action

by The Canary
14 May 2025
Thames Water emergency loan is already paying bosses bonuses for them
Analysis

Thames Water £3bn emergency loan is going straight into bosses’ bonuses

by James Wright
14 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

Another DWP pensions scandal hitting women is "the biggest of modern times"
Analysis
Steve Topple

Another DWP pensions scandal hitting women is “the biggest of modern times”

An open letter from Jewish people calls out the Board of Deputies for stifling criticism of Israel
News
The Canary

An open letter from Jewish people calls out the Board of Deputies for stifling criticism of Israel

Image via Zkiah Smith of Greenwich council flats
Analysis
HG

Greenwich council at the centre of a growing fire safety scandal in block of new flats

dyfed pension fund actually has over £200m invested in Israel
News
The Canary

Welsh pension fund has more than 180 times the investments in Israel it claims, so campaigners are taking action

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

Tech
Nathan Spears

How Digital Addictions Are Formed in the Shadow of Large Platforms

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub