Roderic O'Gorman was speaking on the final day of the Green Party's virtual ard fheis.
Under the programme for Government announced earlier this year, they committed to abolishing Direct Provision by the end of the government's time in office.
According to the programme, they said they will "Replace it with a new International Protection accommodation policy centred on a not-for-profit approach."
Speaking at the Green party conference today, O'Gorman said:
"Last week we received a report from the Catherine Day Expert Group, which was commissioned to look at alternatives to Direct Provision.
"That report came to the same conclusion as so many reports have before it, Direct Provision is not fit for purpose."
He called the system "inefficient" and "expensive" but said most importantly "it fails to afford dignity to the people that live in the system."
Inspection process
Mr O'Gorman stated that it will not be a quick process ending the system, seeing as there are 8,000 people currently living in Direct Provision.
Instead he said they will be implementing a new inspection process for centres and they will also be expanding the right to work.
He said by the end of 2020, plans will be published which outline how Direct Provision is to be abolished during the lifetime of this government.
Direct Provision is not fit for purpose - it's inefficient, it's expensive, but most importantly it fails to afford dignity to the people who live in the system, says @RodericOGorman, and that's why work has already begun to dismantle the current system. #OursForTheMaking #GP2020 pic.twitter.com/LjEbdY88Uo
— Green Party Ireland (@greenparty_ie) October 4, 2020
The Minister for Integration also spoke at the ard fheis about his commitment to tackling the "structural and institutional inequalities that exists within our country."
He talked about how the Black Lives Matter movement shed light on racism around the world, including Ireland.
Mr O'Gorman said there was a need for hate crime legilslation to be implemented as well as updating the current legislation around incitement of hatred.
He also said new legislation will be brought in which means companies will have to publish details of the pay gap between their male and female employees.
Finally, the Minister said he is also looking to implement socio-economic discrimination as a new part of the Equal Status Act 2000.
So brilliant to hear that @rodericogorman is working on anti-discrimination measures that would include making companies publish information on their gender pay gap, and prevent discrimination on socio-economic grounds, plus long awaited and much needed hate crime legislation. 👏 https://t.co/f4mqoebonS
— Cllr Carolyn Moore (@carolynmoore_ie) October 4, 2020
