ASYLUM SEEKERS AND THE RIGHT TO WORK IN IRISH LAW: NHV v MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

In NHV v Minister for Justice and Equality, the Supreme Court of Ireland confirmed that asylum seekers have the right to work. The decision is significant for a number of reasons, not least because it brings Irish law into line with that of most other European countries. First, the case raises interesting questions about the correct interpretation of art.15 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Secondly, it makes an important contribution to the understanding, evident in European and national law, of the indignity involved in being prohibited from working. And third, the restrictions on the right to work of asylum seekers, outlined by the Irish Supreme Court, highlight tensions in that self-same underlying concept of dignity. While work remains to be done to complete the labour market access framework for asylum seekers, NHV is a major step in the right direction.