Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not have many questions because the Minister of State has indicated on many occasions that he cannot answer questions on the working group. We are not talking about our immigration system, we are talking about our protection system. Our protection system is extremely important. It is an international commitment by the country to look after those who by reason of persecution on the grounds of race, nationality or political opinion are fleeing their country and seek sanctuary. That is something on which one would not get an international convention today if one tried to do it. One would never get countries to agree to a system where they have an obligation to take people in. We must cherish the fact that we have it and that it is up and running. The protection system has been supplemented by European law on subsidiary protection on the right not be sent back to a place where one can be harmed.

Since day one in this House I have been extremely critical of the system of direct provision. It is something of which I have personal knowledge from very early in my political career from doing constituency work and clinic work with President Michael D. Higgins, then Deputy Higgins. We met people day in and day out who were in the immigration system. We were in Lisbrook House, which was closed two years ago. We met asylum seekers and saw them over a period of years. We saw them change and lose something inside themselves.

I was banging my head, as were many other Deputies and Senators, for three to four years waiting for something to happen. For all the good words we got from the previous Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, nothing came out of it. We were constantly told that the immigration Bill was due in six months time but when one asked again six months later we were told it would appear in a further six months time, yet nothing ever emerged. It was rare for the impression to be given that there was any desire to change the direct provision system. That changed dramatically when the Government set out its mid-term priorities. As I understand it, the Tánaiste, Deputy Burton, negotiated that it would be a Government priority to address the direct provision system. In the interim we have seen the protection Bill come into being and a working group was set up by the Minister of State. That is something about which we can be extremely positive. I, for one, am delighted something has happened.

Some members of the eminent group of people on the working group are no fans of the Government or the political parties. They are very critical of the current system and want to change it. I regret that Sue Conlan resigned from the group. She gave her reasons. The Irish Refugee Council, IRC, is perfectly entitled to take such a position but I would not like to see it as a reflection on the group itself because a lot of independent, good-minded people are still on it and by their continued participation on it, they take a different view as to how best to bring about change. That should also be put on record.

The recommendations of the independent group will be brought to the Minister of State. I acknowledge and respect the fact that he said he would come back to the committee to discuss it. Many of us who have been very vocal on this issue are holding our fire while waiting to see what comes out of it. When the Minister of State comes back to the committee I would like that we would not just discuss the report but also the supplementary issue of how the recommendations will be implemented. There must be an action plan, timetable, timescales and funding models. There is no point in getting all of this traction and finally getting something going to get a report that sits on a shelf. The report must be implemented. I will challenge the Minister of State in that regard because that is what I want to see happen.