Fianna Fáil says the process of dealing with asylum applications must be reformed.

The party's Foreign Affairs spokesman says he is concerned in particular at the excessively long waiting time that some families have spent in direct provision.

Refugees are housed in the centres while they wait for a decision on their asylum applications.

Deputy Brendan Smith says reform is needed in key areas:

Earlier this week, an independent report said the Government has allowed human rights to take a “terrible battering” since the financial crisis.

The Free Legal Advice Centre - along with over 50 organisations - contributed to the study, which will be sent to the UN.

It says women, the poor and migrants have been the worst affected - and it has called for the direct provision system to be abolished, the minimum wage to be increased, and a referendum on the definition of the family.

Last week, the High Court ruled that the Direct Provision system does not breach the human rights of two asylum seekers based in Galway.

However the woman and her son won their claim that there is no justification for some of the house rules in their accommodation.