Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I thank Ms Buckley. That is a comprehensive answer. I would like to raise a couple of points. Many who arrive on these shores come from authoritarian-type countries, where women, in particular, have an extremely difficult upbringing and survival within the communities in which they live. I wonder about their willingness to look at the structures, supports and rights-based facilities available in Ireland.

An article in The Irish Timessuggested that although all of these are place, many of these people come from societies where people did not have rights. Therefore, they did not have a way to look for rights and the assistance of the authorities. For such people, authorities, rather than being people to engage with, are people to avoid like the plague. The officials have done an amazing amount of work with the thousands of migrants that have come to this country over the past ten or more years, and they are to be complimented on that. Do we need to put in place more structures to assist them in the re-education of migrants who arrive in this country, in particular from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and other such almost dictatorial countries?

I am concerned about young people and women. I went to see migrants land in Sicily and to engage with them. Some of the stories we heard, in particular from young women, were horrific. The price they paid to get this country, not in financial terms but with their bodies, for want of a better description, was horrific. Young men had equally horrific experiences. The major fear I had in Sicily was that we were told by one young woman that they were pushed out to sea in Tripoli and arrived in Sicily where they were brought into a migrant centre. They presented whatever they were asked for, but pimps and those who would exploit them were waiting for them outside the gates. While direct provision has many negative aspects, the one positive aspect is that it is, I hope, a safe place for young people to live while there being processed through the system.

Does the Department need more help? Should this committee make recommendations for more assistance for officials? I can see Ms Buckley is smiling. I assume if ask her a question like that she would fill a bucket with the number of requests. I will kick over to her now.