Direct Provision and the Rights of the Child in Ireland

This article explores the rights of the child and direct provision in Ireland. First, I will outline the key features of direct provision and the concerns expressed about this system from a children's rights perspective. Secondly, I will examine the degree to which Ireland is abiding by international obligations as regards children in direct provision, with a core focus on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Thirdly, I will consider legal challenges to the system of direct provision in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Finally, I will argue for the need to adopt a human rights compliant system that fully respects, protects and vindicates the socio-economic rights of child asylum seekers in Ireland.