A/HRC/17/34/Add.2 European Union Asylum Procedures Directive to ensure better protection of asylumseekers.81 93. The independent expert is also concerned about the impact that the consecutive cuts to the budget of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) may have on the status determination procedure for asylum-seekers. She calls on the State to ensure that it has the appropriate resources to deal with all cases in a timely and fair manner. 94. The independent expert welcomes the recent introduction of provisions to place unaccompanied separated children in foster care,82 and calls on the State to ensure that appropriate training and monitoring mechanisms are in place to ensure the best interests of the child are given priority in all matters affecting asylum-seeking and refugee children. VII. Conclusions and recommendations 95. The independent expert recognizes the difficult situation that Ireland faces in the aftermath of the economic and financial crises, but reminds the State of its continuing obligations to comply with human rights standards. While Ireland has made impressive advances in poverty reduction over the past decade, these gains will be reversed if those living in poverty and social exclusion are not protected during the recovery. The crises provide an opportunity for Ireland to put human rights at the heart of the recovery, and to meet some of its long-standing social goals. The burden of the crises must be shared by all segments of Irish society, while those living in poverty and social exclusion must be protected as a matter of priority. 96. The report includes detailed recommendations in each of its sections, but the independent expert would like to especially urge Ireland to take the following steps: (a) Strengthen the legal and institutional framework by giving domestic legal effect to Ireland’s international human rights obligations, and ratifying and incorporating into domestic law international, treaties to which it is not yet party; (b) Review its Programme for Government and National Recovery to ensure that it complies with human rights principles, particularly the obligation to use the maximum resources available and to not take retrogressive measures in the protection of economic, social and cultural rights, and consider reversing those measures which will disproportionately impact on the most vulnerable and excluded, particularly reductions in social protection payments and funding to public services; and (c) Strengthen the social protection system, infrastructure and social services to ensure the full enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural rights of the population, and remove barriers that prevent the most vulnerable segments of society from accessing their entitlements. 81 82 22 The Court of Justice of the European Communities recently held that Ireland has failed to comply with Council Directive 2005/85/EC of 1 December 2005 on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status (Case C-431/10, 7 April 2011). Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, 2009.