Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is correct to highlight the positive benefits for communities by adopting a positive approach, particularly when there are worrying developments in Ireland such as a growth in racism and certain elements fuelling hatred around the direct provision system. When Syrians arrived in Monasterevin, the attention given to issues such as integration, English lessons and acclimatising to a new culture worked, and it prepared the people to feel part of the community, in contrast to direct provision where people are isolated. Many of the people in direct provision now have their status and they are stuck there. They cannot get out and they still cannot access the labour market. This is a lesson in how not to do it and now that the Government has additional money, it has to spend it. The people in direct provision should get some of the money to enable them to get out, though that may be a separate argument. Tomorrow, we will take up the argument that the Minister has loads of money to implement the International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill and that is great.