John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the asylum and immigration processes, again reflecting on my work as a constituency representative, I have monitored a number of cases that have been just allowed to linger on within the system with opportunity lost, and a life poorly spent because of the State not being efficient enough to allow the individual to work at whatever age that person might be. I have seen another case where the family came to Ireland in 2000 and all the family members now have naturalisation certificates and are Irish citizens, except the father, after 21 years. Somebody said something about him. Nobody will tell him what was said about him, so there is a lack of information in terms of that individual trying to deal with his case. That is wrong. If there is something there, individuals like him should be told. He or she should be given the information so that at least he or she can prove it to be wrong, or accept it and move on, but to leave somebody in limbo with the statement "I know something about you" is truly the wrong way to do business and is a reflection on the state that we are in. I hope that in dealing with that area, Mr. Deering will deal with the most vulnerable cases, the ones that are outstanding and need to be checked on.

To return to a question that Deputy Doherty asked, it is a question of the Ombudsman's office being able to hold to account on issues Secretaries General and Ministers who are heads of their Departments. I encourage Mr. Deering to be fearless in that. He is at a point in his career where he can be fearless. He has built up a degree of respect that I do not think anybody will challenge. There are times when individuals such as him have an even greater contribution to make to the State because of the length of time he has been around. That is a positive. He knows where the graveyards are, where the bodies are and the attitudes of people, and if any one man knows what needs to be done it is his good self. With those few comments I want to end on a positive note and repeat that his work on financial services is noteworthy and has been very positive for many people. He has been a breath of fresh air in that area. He is bringing a new dynamic to this particular office. In line with his opening statement and the discussion we have had, he will certainly be supported in the course of his duties, but be not afraid.