Posted by Updated / Thursday, 15 Jan 2026 15:56
Political Reporter
A group of asylum seekers has set up an encampment next to the Department of Agriculture in Dublin, as they seek an amnesty to regularise their status in Ireland.
The group are members of Abolish Direct Provision Ireland, which is calling for another amnesty for international protection applicants.
In return, they say that they promise to leave direct provision centres within six months and to never apply for social housing.
The group says the direct provision system is broken with people “detained” for years without timelines or certainty.
Spokesperson Angelia Russell said they are not looking for a blanket amnesty as was granted in 2021.
“We have 1,500 members who are long-term residents and we have already agreed collectively that nobody would ever apply for a council house. We also don’t want any benefits or anything like that and we have agreed to move out of direct provision within six months to ease the pressure already there.”
On a Government pledge to conclude asylum decisions and appeals within six month, Ms Russell said that was not feasible.
“I believe that everybody has a very different story. Vulnerable people can be a hard shell to crack open and they need to have that space. International Protection officers know how deep this is and how much trauma people have gone through.”
Members have also been protesting outside Leinster House this week.
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