Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their contributions. I would like to take up a couple of points. The number of people who tested positive within the direct provision services was referenced. For information purposes it might be helpful for the committee to have the stats on the percentage of the overall number of residents versus the percentage in terms of the general population. At the start of the pandemic, a very serious situation arose in the Cahersiveen centre, which was mishandled. There are lessons to be learned from that if we are to avoid a repeat of that situation.

I want to raise an issue that has come to my attention in the past 24 hours. I am sure it has been brought to the attention of many other Deputies. I know it has been raised with my colleague, Deputy Michael Creed. I refer to the situation in regard to the direct provision centre in Macroom, County Cork, where a number of residents have been informed that they are to move to County Donegal. This is very concerning.

There are people who have come to Macroom, settled well into the community and are happy where they are. They enrolled their children in local schools and those children have settled in and made many friends in their classes. I have been informed of families who bought uniforms for the new semester, starting in September, and who are being moved to Donegal. My understanding is that they will be moved to own-door accommodation. That is an improvement, on first look, but some of those families have put down roots in the town and are being asked to move to the northernmost part of the island of Ireland. Children and adults are being separated from their friends. What are our guests' views on that? Should there be an opt-out for people? I am also concerned about the amount of notice that is being given to people. In this case, the notice period seems to have been particularly short. It is surely no way to treat people. I am keen to hear our guests' views on that matter. I again thank Mr. Henderson and Dr. Lannon.

Today's meeting needs to be about the direct provision service and everything we have discussed. However, it would be remiss of me, as a member of the committee, not to question the Chairman's recent remarks where, as a Member of the Oireachtas and as the Chairman of an Oireachtas committee, he failed to condemn the killers of a member of An Garda Síochána on active service. The Chairman needs to explain his position to this committee or to Dáil Éireann. Does he or does he not condemn people who kill members of An Garda Síochána in cold blood, people who left a wife widowed and children without their father? Is this something with which he agrees or not? He should explain his position to this committee or to Dáil Éireann. The Dáil is sitting again next week and the Chairman will have the opportunity to explain his position. He should do that. We have not been able to sit in person since the first meeting of this committee and the Chairman has got off the hook on a number of occasions. He needs to make his position clear to Dáil Éireann. That is the very least he should do as the Chairman of an Oireachtas committee.

I thank our guests for their contributions. They are doing an important job and I am sorry that the other matter I have raised has overshadowed the important matter we are here to discuss. I have raised a number of points and would be interested to hear our guests' views on those specific cases relating to direct provision.