Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree 100%. The scale is becoming quite large. It is an emerging issue and potentially an emerging scandal.

I have two more questions, related partly to what we are talking about and partly to direct provision generally. Inspection and the ability to have oversight of what is happening in centres were raised. When the State approves the optional protocol to the convention against torture, will it improve oversight at direct provision centres and all sorts of other locations?

When considering the structure and accommodation, do we need to address the culture in some of the institutions? I believe the culture played a big part in what happened with Sylva Tukula. I was on the radio about this matter and referred to the contrast with the case of Sean Parker, who was in London. The local authority there went the extra mile to find somebody in Galway who would be able to give Sean a fitting, dignified burial and to ensure he would be properly remembered. Nobody went the extra mile in the case of Sylva Tukula. People can say they were not notified and that nobody told them. Nobody went the extra mile or inch in that instance. That, to me, speaks of a culture that extends not only to the RIA but also to the INIS. The latter is excessively adversarial at times. One of the most incredible sentences I read in my life was in a report to this committee referring to some of the witnesses who attended and some of the determinations made by INIS. A determination refusing family reunification questioned the degree of destruction in Syria, saying it was noted that central Damascus had been relatively unscathed by the war in Syria. I remember reading that and thinking it was just incredible. Is there a cultural element in the INIS and RIA? There are many good staff in those organisations doing their best for those fleeing conflict and seeking a better life here but is there an excessively adversarial attitude to applicants seeking international protection? Do we need to tackle the culture? Am I completely off the mark?