Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Dr. Severoni and thank him for his presentation. I have three very quick questions. He mentions that the integration of asylum seekers is a challenge facing northern European countries. Given what we have seen in Paris recently, for example, and Britain also, many migrants have become segregated rather than integrated. What is Dr. Severoni's view or does he have a policy on inter-culturalism versus multiculturalism, which is probably at the root of some of the difficulties? There is, obviously, a significant difference in the approaches adopted. The multiculturalism approach which has been embraced during the years seems to have failed and there has perhaps been segregation as a consequence.

Mention has been made of our system, how we handle asylum seekers, in particular, and our system of direct provision. It can take up to nine years in many instances for the process to be completed. This means that people are living in these facilities together in what are probably overcrowded conditions. Is Dr. Severoni familiar with the process? Will he comment on the delay in processing applications? Does he see implications for the mental health of migrants in that scenario?

My third question concerns Ebola. Some medical staff who were very brave and good to volunteer their services are returning from affected areas having been infected. They comprise a very small number, but we have seen this happen in the United States and Britain. Presumably, it has happened elsewhere. There has been a debate in some places, particularly on the neighbouring island, about quarantining those who come back having given their service. Will Dr. Severoni comment on this?

Has that debate in any way inhibited volunteers or is the WHO happy with the number of medical volunteers going to affected areas? One of these cases appeared to arise in this country but it transpired that the individual concerned was not affected. The individual was shunted from one hospital to another, which did not appear to be a good approach. Has the WHO issued clear guidelines on what should take place in such a situation?