Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that. Obviously, the objective of the legislation is to ensure that the current long and torturous procedure for applicants is shortened, mitigated and made more transparent, fair and timely. However, I am concerned that if the settled position is to move away from direct provision, it would be a matter of good planning that the Department, under the direction of the Secretary General, would be considering the various models and planning for that change. I sense that is not the case. Therefore, this does not strike an optimistic note for those of us who would wish to see an end to direct provision.