According to Taoiseach Simon Harris, charging wage-earning asylum seekers is “common sense” and should be taken into consideration “to maintain social cohesion,” reports Breaking News.
According to The Irish Independent, asylum seekers who are employed would be required to contribute up to €238 per week towards the cost of public housing and services.
Under the direct provision system, asylum seekers get €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per kid each week. They are not allowed to work in Ireland until they have waited six months for an initial verdict on their claim, reports Breaking News.
It was not “unreasonable to ask” for a payment, according to Mr. Harris, even if no suggestions had yet been brought before Cabinet if asylum seekers were making more than that.
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Furthermore, he emphasised that Ireland is a “compassionate country” and that it has “benefited immensely” from immigration.
He said: “Supporting people who come here in a vulnerable situation is not just an important thing to do, it’s an international obligation. There are laws and rules around this, and Ireland will always abide by that. But we do also need to keep this issue under review, and alongside compassion, there does need to be common sense, and there are people who are in our asylum systems who have a right to work,” reports Breaking News.
He added: “I think Irish people believe that if you’re working and earning a decent wage and it’s means tested, that it’s not unreasonable to ask you to contribute to some of the services you receive from Ireland. I think that fairness is important. So I do think it’s important we give consideration to this, because I actually believe to maintain social cohesion, to continue to ensure the centre holds on this issue, it’s important that you constantly make sure there’s a common sense approach to the rules. So yes, I believe it would be common sense to make sure that if you are earning money, if you have an income above and beyond the €38, if you have an income, and that income is means tested, you should be asked to contribute something,” reports Breaking News.
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