David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am not the only person to whom this happened. A number of organisations, including non-governmental organisations, were invited in to assist and support people who were living in these centres. As Mr. O'Driscoll has spoken about rights, I should mention that people have a right to vote in local elections. I was refused permission to canvass even though everyone has a right to canvass Mr. O'Driscoll or anybody else in this room or elsewhere. The people living in this centre were not allowed to be canvassed. On the basis of being refused permission to canvass, I subsequently wrote to the residents. The letters I sent to each of them were posted directly to the reception centre. Those letters were opened and put in the bin by the manager of the centre. To me, that does not suggest that their rights are the same as those of anybody else. Although things have changed since then, I do not believe the individual freedoms associated with living in one's own home, whether it is through social housing or private housing, are afforded to people who live in reception centres. I do not accept that all the freedoms enjoyed by Mr. O'Driscoll and me are being enjoyed at this point in time by people in direct provision centres. Notwithstanding the change that has allowed some people to work, there are still some people who are not allowed to work. People cannot work up to nine months. Mr. O'Driscoll has to accept that there are freedoms which are denied. I am not saying that things have not changed. I accept fully that they have. I am conscious of the positive changes that have happened. I still hold the view that the rights enjoyed by these people are not the same as the rights that Mr. O'Driscoll or I might enjoy.