Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Ng'ang'a's child is every bit as good as my child and why should his child be discriminated against which is what is happening?

I must declare an interest in this. As the Chairman will be aware, sometimes I am passionate about certain issues. I am passionate about this and I will tell the committee why. I am a close personal friend to persons who live under direct provision and on a weekly basis, I visit these friends who are living in a room. I do not agree with it.

The system is wrong. It is demoralising. One cannot justify why a respectable man, woman or couple who have children should be forced to live in a room for up to ten years while their application is being processed. I would have far more respect for the system if it was to deal with an application, make a decision and state an outcome. That would be fine.

However, it is wrong to leave a person lingering, living in a room under conditions that are, as Mr. Ng'ang'a said, prison-like. These people have not committed a crime. They have done nothing wrong and have come here in the best of good faith. I will be the first to say we do not want Ireland to be an easy place for people to come to and claim benefits. We know that side of the argument. However, the system is wrong and should be reviewed. People’s applications should be dealt with in a swift and timely manner. Every person has only so many years on this earth. No matter where people come from, what colour their skin is or who they are, they deserve to be dealt with in a respectful fashion and no person should be confined to a room until the Government deals with them. Who are we, as legislators, to say, “until we deal with you”? It is wrong.

I have no problem with putting a person into direct provision for six or even 12 months. That would be due process. However, to have people languishing year after year with direct provision as their home is outrageous. I am not being political about this, but I am being personal because I am very close friends with people who are living in these conditions. It is outrageous. I thank the witnesses for coming here today. If some good can come out of it, I would appreciate it because it bothers me an awful lot. What is the difference between the Chairman’s child and the child of a person who is living here ordinarily? There is no difference.