The President has questioned why the programme for government has no commitment to end the Direct Provision system for asylum seekers.

President Higgins has noted that the controversial policy was not a priority during talks on forming a government.

The recent McMahon report into Direct Provision calls for an end to the system.

But in an interview with the Irish Times, the president noted that the programme for government doesn't contain any commitments on the issue.

President Higgins has described the proposals of the McMahon report as "reasonable and practical".