Lynn Ruane (Independent)

I very much agree with Deputy Gannon in this regard for many reasons, and not only the uncertainties we are discussing. Under the general scheme, the Minister can enter contracts for services related to any of his functions under the Act. This means that there is no guarantee that detention facilities or designated asylum border facilities under head 123 will be State-led. What I am looking for is the Department to clarify whether anything that is put in place will be State-led and will not be a privatised function? Based on that answer, I might go to the witnesses from IHREC for their view. We already have a privatised system of asylum and IPAS centres and everyone in this country profiting off how we treat people, so I want to be sure that this does not mean the Minister can make a sweeping contract, in a privatised way, for border facilities.