Ireland's refugee housing system was already under strain before the Russian invasion of Ukraine and is now broken.
That's according to IHREC Chief Commissioner, Sinéad Gibney, who was speaking as the group published its annual report for 2022.
Ms Gibney said she is 'deeply concerned' about the conditions people are living in.
"The movement of Ukrainian refugees was a challenge for all European countries, and Ireland was no exception," she said.
"Despite our warnings, the emergence of a two-tier asylum system played out in front of our eyes - with Ukraine refugees experiencing a markedly different set of conditions to those in the wider international protection system.
"The accommodation system for those arriving to seek international protection was already a system under strain, and now it is broken".
A general view of the Mosney Direct Provision centre in County Meath which houses asylum seekers as they await decisions on their refugee status, 19-07-2017. Image: Niall Carson/PA WireMs Gibney said people's rights and dignity need to be prioritised.
"We remain deeply concerned about the conditions in which many international protection applicants are living," she said.
"It is critical that investment in a permanent system of accommodation for people claiming asylum here, that respects people’s rights and dignity, is prioritised.
"The wider housing crisis persisted throughout 2022 and rising inflation and cost of living put pressure on large sections of Irish society to simply make ends meet. People who were unable to work due to illness or disability were and remain more at risk of poverty," she added.
'Equality-related concerns'
Disability discrimination was the highest area of public contact to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission last year.
The report showed the issue represented 42% of all equality-related concerns.
The top concerns related to the Equal Status Acts focused on discrimination on the grounds of disability (42%), race (16%), gender (8%) and age (8%).
There were also similar figures relating to public concerns around employment and job seeking.
A disability parking spot is seen in Italy in November 2013. Picture by: Paolo Bona / Alamy Stock PhotoThe Commission also used its legal powers as a third party intervener in a case before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Two Codes of Practice prepared by the Commission - including on equal pay and sexual harassment - were launched by the Minister for Equality Roderic O'Gorman.
The group has also made specific recommendations to Government and policy makers on An Garda Síochána Human Rights Strategy, the Referendum on Housing in Ireland, Junior Cycle SPHE Short Course Curriculum and changing gendered language in the Constitution.
