Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The reason I asked the question is that people say people in asylum centres do not want to work. I am trying to be honest. That is why I am asking for information and statistics. I am delighted to hear that they want to work. There should be as much emphasis on them as on the question of work. I understand the issue regarding location. I come from Dundalk. The nearest centres are in Mosney and Monaghan. Committee members intend to visit these two centres in the coming weeks.

What are their entitlements if they want to work? It is great to hear that they want to work and that the entitlement to work is granted. It is easy enough to say that but when a person starts working initially, it could be one or two weeks before he gets any money. Are these people entitled to free public transport? To what are they entitled? I am delighted that the law has changed and that they can work. There are highly skilled people in the centres. As stated earlier, I have individuals ringing me up on a daily basis trying to get people to work for them but they cannot get staff. This morning, I received a telephone call from a painter in Dundalk. He has lost 11 contracts recently. He had ten painters working for him at one stage but now he only has two. It is nearly impossible to get painters.

These people came to this country for a reason. They came for help and we have to give it to them. If they have the qualifications that our guests state they have, then they are entitled to work. These people do not want to be freeloaders, they want to work.