Social Affairs & Religion Correspondent
More than 20 Oireachtas members have signed a letter calling on the Government to publish the annual number of deaths in the Direct Provision system.
The letter to the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Children and Equality describes the secrecy around the Direct Provision system as concerning .
It notes that following a recent written question to the Department of Children and Equality, the Government confirmed it does not keep records or statistics on the number of deaths within the Direct Provision system.
The letter said it makes no sense that the department is not recording deaths, if the human rights of asylum seekers are to be protected.