Taskforce will examine ruling on asylum seeker work ban

The Government is to establish a taskforce to examine the impact of a Supreme Court ruling that the absolute ban on working imposed on asylum seekers by the State is "in principle" unconstitutional.

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan and Minister of State David Stanton said the Cabinet had this week approved the establishment of an interdepartmental group to address the implications of the judgment on May 30th.

Mr Flanagan said that since the Supreme Court decision his department had been analysing and considering “this important and complex judgment”.

He said the court had recognised there were “complex matters” involved, and that the State “has a right to determine not just who can enter the State but also to regulate what their rights are while within the State, particularly as regards employment”.

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“Accordingly, the court has adjourned consideration of its order for six months to enable the State to consider its response.”

The ministers will on Monday publish the third and final progress report on the implementation of the recommendations of the McMahon report on improvements to the direct provision system and the protection process. That report by retired judge Dr Bryan McMahon was published in June 2015, and contained 173 recommendations.

Final report

The Ministers said the final report showed that 98 per cent of the recommendations have been implemented (133 recommendations), partially implemented or are in progress (36 recommendations).

Mr Stanton said the report showed there had been some “very positive actions” to improve the daily lives and the living conditions of applicants and their families.

“For example, the introduction of the foodhall in Mosney and cooking facilities in centres such as Kinsale Road, Clonakilty, and Millstreet in Co Cork and St Patrick’s in Monaghan enables individual families to cook for themselves.”