The Irish government has announced a reduction in waiting time before asylum seekers can access the labour market. Asylum seekers will now be allowed to enter the labour market six months after seeking international protection in Ireland, rather than nine months. Although a positive step, the decision has been criticised for not going far enough to support asylum seekers.

Historically, asylum seekers in Ireland have had no right to work while waiting for their application for international protection to be processed. However, due to the extended length of processing time (which in some cases can take up to ten years), some politicians - as well as government-appointed working groups - began voicing their support for granting the right to work to asylum seekers. After a lengthy campaign by the Movement of Asylum Seekers Ireland (MASI) and a High Court challenge, asylum seekers in Ireland gained the right to work in 2018. 

The decision to shorten the waiting time follows a review carried out by the Department of Justice, in conjunction with an advisory group led by Dr Catherine Day. Pointing to the review, MASI has said that the recent announcement is 'far from what the Government's expert group recommended and the Government's own commitment in the Programme for Government." MASI takes the view that the snail’s pace of reform undermines the Government’s previous commitment to reform and eventually abolish the Direct Provision system.

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