Charging asylum seekers who are working is ‘common sense’, Taoiseach says

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said it was “common sense” to charge asylum seekers who are earning a wage, and said it was important to consider “to maintain social cohesion”.

The Irish Independent reported that asylum seekers who are working could be asked to make contributions of up to €238 a week to pay for state accommodation and services.

Asylum seekers in the direct provision system get €38.80 a week per adult and €29.80 per child, and cannot work in Ireland until they have been waiting six months for a first decision on their application.

Mr Harris said that no proposals had yet come before Cabinet, but if asylum seekers were earning above that, it was not “unreasonable to ask” for a payment.

He also stressed that Ireland has “benefitted hugely” from migration and that it is a “compassionate country”.

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.”

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.”