Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My final question relates to direct provision. It is universally agreed that our direct provision system is a poor one because of the length of time people must remain in it. Uniquely in the European Union, we do not allow asylum seekers to work. That means in some cases people have been stuck for more than ten years without the right to work, which is a poor record. We now have a situation where Mr. Kirrane has explained that countries are identified, of which Syria is one, as I assume are Afghanistan and other such countries, whose citizens will be fast-tracked for asylum, going through the UNHCR and our system. What does that say to people who have been waiting ten years in the direct provision system and are still languishing, unable to work and living on €19 per week? Will the situation of the thousands of such people be addressed? Will there be a more consistent humanitarian approach to those who are already here, looking at the new numbers coming in?