Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree totally without reluctance or hesitation. However, it is equally important that when a vacuum is created and information is not forthcoming to a local community, comments are made by a small group of people. There is a role for us as politicians and for the Ombudsman's office and there is certainly a role for the Government and Department. Mr. Tyndall referred to access to GP services and PPS numbers. Those issues were raised in a different way by the local community in Galway. I do not want to get parochial but I want to talk generally about access. I repeat what was said, which was positive: "We would give the shirts off our backs to help refugees and asylum seekers." I zone in on that as a challenge to the Government and Department. It is to build on what came out of Oughterard, leaving aside the other stuff. People want to work and are open but the manner in which it is being done is difficult. That is part of the problem for communities that have lost essential services. This is unusual and I go no further than that. It would help if there was better communication.