Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to make a point in terms of the way the amendment is drafted. Let us examine it more closely.

In the drafting of the amendment the Deputy is referring to the needs of migrants. That is extraordinarily broad and this is not the legislation on which it should impact. I have given the example of women who are trafficked and outlined the particular approach that needs to be taken to them from the point of view of immigration history and how they should be supported. I have spoken quite a bit about exit supports; therefore, from that perspective I agree with the Deputy absolutely. However, I am making the point that it does not need to be included in this legislation and certainly not in the way he proposes. It is too broad and inappropriate for inclusion in this legislation. I do not mean that the issue is not an appropriate one with which to deal in the context of introducing legislation. I am absolutely clear that organisations working with women who find themselves in this situation need support. I have increased the funding for them in the past two years in recognition of the very issues the Deputy has outlined. I have also said I see no problem in doing further work on them. However, I do not believe the vehicle for this is the legislative mechanism suggested by him. The issue, of course, is very real and accompanies the legislation in terms of my practical approach to and funding for those who are supporting the women involved and understanding the issue further, bringing stakeholders together and producing a report on precisely how the supports could be developed. However, the precise drafting of the proposal is extraordinarily broad and, as such, I cannot accept it.