Irish Government has 6 month to allow asylum seekers to work

We would like to reproduce an article from the Irish Times (30th May 2017 by Ciaràn D'Arcy) on the recent judgment of the Irish Supreme Court. 

Brian Killoran of the Immigrant Council of Ireland said Ireland was one of only two EU countries, the other being Lithuania, which has a complete prohibition on asylum seekers finding employment.

The Right to Work - Asylum Seekers in Ireland

 

Occupational Therapy

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Self-esteem
“From working with asylum seekers over the years we know the impact of the work ban goes much further than simply being denied the right to get a job,” he said, describing the ruling as “unqualified good news”.
“It affects self-esteem, mental health, their children, limits them to a life lived in poverty and affects their opportunity to integrate into Irish society,” said Mr Killoran. 

The Immigrant Council has indicated that its preference is for asylum seekers to be granted the right to work at six months, which is commensurate with the timescale for deciding on asylum applications.The Irish Immigrant Support Centre NASC also welcomed a “potentially landmark ruling”, and its chief executive Fiona Finn said it eagerly awaited the Government’s response to the principle laid down by the court.“Once again it is down to the courts to force the State to live up to its constitutional and human rights obligations.

Necessary actions
“We hope the State will act quickly now in response to the judgment, and take the necessary actions to remove the absolute ban on employment for asylum seekers and ensure the dignity and autonomy of people seeking asylum,” she said.The Supreme Court has adjourned the matter for six months to allow the Government to consider what legislative changes may need to be made in order to respond to the finding.

Related links and articles: 

• Page of the Doras Luimni NGO containing advocacy material and linked to economical studies 
• The right to work for asylum seekers: Ireland's prohibition on employment, Maria Hennessy, Irish Refugee Council, 25/01/2017.

• Oversight of the content of the judgment of the Supreme Court: Asylum seekers’ work ban unconstitutional, says Supreme Court

• Ruling of the Irish Supreme Court: N.V.H -v- Minister for Justice & Equality and ors, 30/05/2017

• Comments from the UNHCR: Irish Supreme Court decision an opportunity to bring Ireland into line with EU laws on the rights of asylum-seekers

• Previous Irish judgments & articles on that topic