A report by the Irish Independent today found that the Department of Justice is actively monitoring social media feeds of those who criticise Direct Provision.
The report found that the Department of Justice regularly generates reports on those who have highlighted the appalling conditions in Direct Provision centres, including people like Marian Keyes, Blindboy Boatclub, Hozier, and groups like Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland / MASI.
In a tweet quoting Ellen Coyne's report, Hozier said that as the Department of Justice was monitoring social media about criticisms of Direct Provision, they "have read countless accounts of dreadful experiences from those suffering within this exploitative, for-profit system."
As the Dept of Justice is monitoring social media posts about Direct Provision, they no-doubt have read countless accounts of dreadful experiences from those suffering within this exploitative, for-profit system. I'd encourage them to use these considerable resources to end it. https://t.co/uLP6kvzaqM
— Hozier (@Hozier) August 16, 2020
He concluded his tweet by encouraging the Department of justice "to use these considerable resources to end it."
The Department of Justice has so far issued no public statement on the report, nor has the Minister of Justice, Helen McEntee, made any comment on the reporting.
For more information on how Direct Provision impacts the lives of asylum seekers in Ireland, and to help asylum seekers caught in the system, please visit masi.ie.
