Peter Sutherland, the United Nations Special Representative for International Migration, today told Newstalk Lunchtime he believes that asylum seekers in Ireland should be free to work while awaiting a decision on their immigration status.

Peter Sutherland speaks to Newstalk Lunchtime

Mr Sutherland said that, considering the length of time it takes to reach a decision on migrants’ status, time which they currently spend in the Direct Provision system, banned from working, migrants should be permitted to work while awaiting a ruling on their status.

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“My personal view is that during that waiting period there is nothing that should preclude their being allowed to work,” he said.

“I think this area should be changed right across the European Union. If people can get jobs reasonably in the place that they are, why shouldn’t they work?”

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Asylum seekers in Ireland in direct provision currently get a weekly allowance of €19.10 from the state and are barred from working. there are over 4,000 people currently in the Direct Provision system who have been waiting over four years for a decision on their status - including 1,600 children.

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