Ms Fiona Hurley:

I echo everything Senator Kelleher said. In terms of dependence, before this meeting I perused our family reunification files for the number of applications submitted and the number of successful applications. Historically, we provided a staggering amount of evidence, which often encompassed hundreds of money transfer receipts dating back years. Every week, people in direct provision centres saved up the weekly allowance of €19.10, as it was at the time, to send to family members. The level of evidence in many medical reports was staggeringly high. Our files show that the majority of applications are for members of the applicant's nuclear family. Often, one person lived in the family unit who was not a nuclear family member, for example, a brother or sister aged under 18 years of age or a parent. The new legislation means that such persons are left behind, which means one loses the person who is often responsible for bringing up the children left behind. That issue needs to be considered because it breaks up rather than reunites families.