Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Yes. I thank both witnesses for their presentations and ongoing work. All of us are deeply conscious of the real need for reform and, ultimately, action to be taken in ending direct provision. In the context of the legislative foundation for proposed reform and the fact that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth may be stating that we do not need that legislative framework, does the whole reform process stop if that framework is not there?

My second question is in the context of the proposal from the Government and the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to close 24 emergency accommodation centres throughout the country and feeds into what Deputy Griffin said about the need for real consultation. Dr. Lannon stated that one of the things we must do in a multicultural Ireland if we are serious about it at any level, whether it concerns the GAA, civil society or schools, is to have integration and consultation. Consultation means real dialogue. In my native city of Cork, we have seen a lot of great work being done by many different organisations and we had a very strong city council integration policy. As Dr. Lannon stated, there are multiple moving parts but the fundamental thing is that we are dealing with human beings. As politicians, none of us looks at the person who walks into our office as a voter. We look at them as a person who has come to our country looking for help and international protection.

My third question concerns the international context. How stands international protection for people who cannot necessarily leave their countries now because of the Covid-19 pandemic? What should the committee do to prioritise and promote equality and human rights now that Ireland has a powerful seat at the UN? Deputy Griffin posed a question we need to answer in the context of the remarks the Chairman allegedly made. If we are talking about the upholding of human rights, and this is not for our two witnesses today, then the Chairman needs to address matters relating to the killing of a member of An Garda Síochána.

I thank Mr. Lannon and Mr. Henderson for being here today and for their ongoing work. Many of us who have an open door policy, as all of us on this committee do, recognise the importance of giving the witnesses a platform beyond a wider remit to educate and bring people on a journey. It is through education, schools and sport that we can bring profound and real change. I am conscious that the McMahon and Catherine Day reports have given us a roadmap. The Law Society made a very interesting submission recently to the Government on that. We might look to bring representatives of the Law Society before the committee in future.