Labour hypocrisy on Direct Provision astounding – Ó Clochartaigh
Senator
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh has criticised statements by high profile Labour members
in recent days as totally hypocritical.
Speaking from
Galway today, the Sinn Féin Senator says:
‘Former
Minister with responsibility for Asylum policy, Labour Senator Aodhán Ó
Ríordáin, has a lot to answer for in relation to the internationally condemned
Direct Provision system for accommodating Asylum Seekers, which he and his
party failed to replace.
‘Concerns
about Direct Provision have been continuously raised by Sinn Féin, Oireachtas
Committees, successive Public Service Ombudsmen, the Ombudsman for Children,
NGO’s such as the Irish Refugee Council, Doras Luimní, NASC & Spirasi to
name a few and a host of International Human Rights Organisations.
‘The Working
Group, which Aodhán Ó Ríordán oversaw, was precluded from proposing
alternatives to Direct Provision, which led to a number of high profile
resignations from the group.
‘Former Labour
Ministers, Joan Burton and Jan O’Sullivan, were also called upon to act to
allow children in Direct Provision access to third level education and to
universal children’s allowance payments amongst other things, which they failed
to deliver on.
‘It is
interesting to note that President Higgins has rowed in on the debate now as
well, but despite a number of leading NGO’s and concerned individuals calling
on him not to sign the International Protection Bill, which in their view
failed to address serious concerns about Ireland’s obligations under
international agreements around family reunification and other issues, he
signed the bill into law.
‘Direct
Provision has been the subject of many reports which say the privatised, profit
driven system dreamed up by Fianna Fáil and perpetuated by Fine Gael and
Labour, needs to be replaced with a more appropriate model which lives up to
our international human rights obligations and best practice, bringing us in
line with almost every other EU state. That is what must now be achieved and
Sinn Féin will be pushing for that to happen’.
‘Sadly this is
yet another example of Labour talking the talk when in opposition when they
didn’t walk the walk whilst in Government.’
Fimínteacht an Lucht Oibre maidir le Soláthar Díreach dochreidte - Ó Clochartaigh
Tá ráitis ó bhaill sinsearacha den Lucht Oibre le laethanta beaga anuas cáinte ag an Seanadóir Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, ag cur fimíneacht ina leith.
Ag labhairt do as Gaillimh inniu, deir Seanadóir Shinn Féin:
‘Tá cuid mhaith freagracht ar an Iar-Aire – Seanadóir an Lucht Oibre, Aodháin Ó Ríordáin, a raibh cúraimí na dTeifeach air, mar gheall ar an gcóras Soláthar Dhíreach cóiríochta do lucht iarrtha tearmann, ar theip ar a pháirtí córas níos feiliúnaí a chur ina áit.
‘Tá an t-uafás dreamanna tar éis imní leanúnach a léiriú maidir leis an gcóras Soláthar Díreach – ina measc Sinn Féin, comhchoistí Oireachtais, Fear an Phobail agus Ombudsman na Leanaí, Comhairle na dTeifeach in Éirinn, Doras Luimní, NASC & Spirasi chomh maith le h-iliomad eagraíocht Cearta Daonna idirnáisiúnta.
‘Cuireadh bac ar an nGrúpa Oibre, a bhunaigh Aodhán Ó Ríordán, féachaint ar mholtaí maidir leis an gcóras Soláthar Díreach a athrú agus d’éirigh roinnt baill ardoilte as an ngrúpa mar thoradh ar sin.
‘Iarradh ar na hIar-Airí eile de chuid an Lucht Oibre, Joan Burton agus Jan O’Sullivan, athruithe a thabhairt isteach chun rochtain ar oideachas tríú leibhéal agus íocaíochtaí sochar leanaí uilíoch a thabhairt do pháistí sa gcóras soláthar díreach, imeasc rudaí eile agus theip orthu siúd sin a dhéanamh chomh maith.
‘Tá sé spéisiúil go bhfuil an tUachtarán Ó hUiginn tar éis labhairt ar an ábhar le laethanta beaga anuas freisin, ach nuair a d’iarr roinnt eagraíochtaí neamhrialtasacha agus daoine aonair air gan an Bhille Cosanta Idirnáisiúnta a shíniú, a bhí lochtach dar leo maidir le dulagaisi na hÉireann ó thaobh cearta daonna faoi chomhaontaithe idirnáisiúnta, athaontú clainne agus nithe eile, lean sé ar aghaidh leis an bhille a shíniú ina dhlí.
‘Is iomaí tuairisc atá tar éis an chóras Soláthar Díreach, príobháidithe, brabasúil a cheap Fianna Fáil agus ar lean Fine Gael agus an Lucht Oibre leis, a cháineadh agus gur chóir córas atá níos oiriúnaí, a chomhlíonann na dualgais cearta daonna idirnáisiúnta atá ar Éirinn - dhá dtabhairt chun cothromaíochta le formhór na mballstát eile san AE, a thabhairt isteach agus beidh Sinn Féin ag stocaireacht chuige sin.
‘Faraor, is léiriú eile é an athrú poirt seo nach ndearna an Lucht Oibre ‘Beart de réir briathair’ agus iad i mbun Rialtais.’