The intervention of President Michael D Higgins in the direct provision debate has obviously raised discussion on this contentious issue to a new level.

Direct provision is the system by which refugees are held in centres - sometimes for years - as they await the processing of their applications for asylum. They are not allowed to work and while they live on state subsidies, these are far below the rates paid out to our own social welfare claimants.

Despite a recent High Court ruling, President Higgins said that the system, as it now stands, does not address the human rights of people seeking refugee status here. For successive governments this has been a delicate balancing act between discouraging economic migrants and yet behaving in a decent way with genuine asylum seekers. Keeping people in accommodation for years and refusing to allow them to work certainly seems harsh and inhumane.

US President Barack Obama has taken a bold step in legalising almost five million illegal immigrants overnight.

It may be time for Ireland to follow this lead, especially for those who have been in this 'limbo' for years.

Irish Independent