Social welfare law and asylum seekers in Ireland : an anatomy of exclusion

This article examines how asylum seekers, initially catered for within the confines of Irish social welfare law, were removed from its ambit. This article provides the first complete account, with reference to law, policy and administrative action, of how asylum seekers in Ireland were placed in a separated system of welfare support, direct provision. It is argued that the direct provision system is of dubious legality and needs to be placed on a legislative footing as a matter of urgency.