Mr. Justice Bryan McMahon:

When we compiled our report, we came across a phenomenon that was quite depressing. If people remained in direct provision centres for five, six or seven years, they lost the will to work and became de-skilled. Their skills atrophied and they became institutionalised. We should not have that problem anymore. The people who are in these centres for six months, a year or two years want to work. I asked a man in one of the centres how he was getting on. I was inquiring about his legal papers. He told me to forget about his legal status. He urged me to help him to be allowed to get up in the morning, have his breakfast, go to work and then come back in the evening and sit down with his wife and children and say that that day he had worked. He said he would work for nothing. It means a great deal to the new people coming in. Deputy Fitzpatrick is absolutely right; there is a missed opportunity here somewhere. I am unsure as to how the matter can be resolved.