Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I am not sure if that will be the effective way to do it. I do not know, as I do not have all the information. There are concerns about it. It might be important for the cohesion and delivery of an improved service to try to ensure, in so far as it is possible, to locate the headquarters in such a way as to be accessible and to minimise the amount of bureaucracy and toing and froing that might have to take place.

Over the years we have all put down questions on humanitarian abuses in Africa. I am slightly worried. I note the replies coming from the office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs on places such as Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo where there are serious human rights abuses, ethnic cleansing, hunger, deprivation and the breakdown of society for a variety of reasons. At the same time the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform refuses applicants for refugee status on the basis they can return home in safety. I find it difficult to understand whether we are talking about the same subject. On the one hand the Department of Foreign Affairs readily acknowledges the serious abuses that are taking place in a number of these countries, some of which I have mentioned. Meanwhile another Minister says that for the purposes of determining their refugee status, we believe it is safe for them to go home. There have been some serious cases recently in which people have been returned to Rwanda, where they have no hope of living safely, having fled the country under duress. I hope the Minister might liaise with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform with a view to resolving those problems. Otherwise we will find ourselves embarrassed. I do not have time to deal with the rest of the issues but I hope we will have time for a longer debate in the future.

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