This video documents my conversation with asylum seekers on hunger strike outside Leinster House on January 30th, 2026. When I first approached them, I misunderstood their demands and believed they were asking for medical cards and additional supports. They corrected me. Their stated aim, in their own words, is about feeling trapped in limbo within the IPAS system and wanting the right to leave the centres and access normal housing and living conditions. I asked them directly whether they understood the wider housing crisis in Ireland — with over 17,000 Irish people homeless, including 5,000 children — and the fact that the housing simply does not exist. They placed responsibility for that situation on the government. This video shows that exchange exactly as it happened, allowing them to explain their position while also raising the obvious questions many Irish people are asking about housing, resources, and priorities.
Credit to : bogtrotter – Ireland