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Justice department says it will consider some Cahersiveen asylum seekers' requests to be moved

Jul 30, 2020 13:21 By radiokerrynews
Justice department says it will consider some Cahersiveen asylum seekers' requests to be moved
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Residents of a direct provision centre for asylum seekers in South Kerry are continuing their hunger strike. This action is being undertaken by fit and

Residents of a direct provision centre for asylum seekers in South Kerry are continuing their hunger strike.

This action is being undertaken by fit and healthy adults residing at the Skellig Star Accommodation Centre in Cahersiveen.

The asylum seekers are demanding to be moved from Cahersiveen to what they say are more appropriate centres.

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The Department of Justice says requests for transfers will be considered in the coming days.

The deparment sent a letter to residents last evening, responding to their hunger strike.

The letter states that Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and her department are listening to the concerns and are acting to address the issues raised by the residents in the Cahersiveen direct provision centre.

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Deputy Secretary General Oonagh Buckley says she regrets the residents felt it was necessary to take such action and asks that they don't put their health in danger; she says the residents' concerns have been heard by the department.

Requests for transfers, made by some residents, will be considered in the coming days, the letter states.

Azwar Fuard, a resident of the Skellig Star centre, says the residents feel this letter hasn't addressed the issues they raised.

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Mr Fuard says their demands are not special and should have been provided for by the department; he says the hunger strike will continue until they all receive transfer letters to more appropriate accommodation.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly is confident the Skellig Star accommodation centre will close.

He says the centre doesn't comply with the Department of Justice regulations which were published in August last year; these regulations will only come into effect next January.

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Deputy Daly says, as it stands, he believes the contract at the Cahersiveen direct provision centre can't be renewed as a result.

Deputy Pa Daly met with Justice Minister Helen McEntee today.

During this meeting Deputy Daly stressed the need for the centre to close sooner rather than later.

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