Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I am glad of the opportunity to speak on this fair and balanced Bill. A line in it states that at every step and turn there is justice and equality. I do not aim to plagiarise the Minister, as has been done in the House yesterday. Great care has been taken with the legislation.

The Ceann Comhairle was Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the great wave of immigration came to this country. He had the onerous task of making important arrangements, often on the hoof, regarding numbers, finances and social services to ensure those who came here were treated with a modicum of courtesy and given a safe harbour for a certain period of time. I recall sitting at Cabinet when the issue exploded. Huge numbers were arriving despite the 1996 Dublin convention which required asylum seekers to return to the country they had last entered. I do not know how satisfactory that convention has been. When people come to my clinic, I often ask them the last place they visited before they arrived in Ireland. Their replies are either suitably vague or they tell me they were in Belfast, which tells its own tale because they obviously travelled to that city from the UK.

Second Stage speeches provide opportunities for philosophising. Within ten years, this small country has seen an influx of people from other countries but has somehow managed through earlier ad hoc measures and in this more reflective period to give safe harbour and to promote a policy which is constructive and embraces all those who have come to our shores. This was a country of emigrants but in the space of ten years we have experienced significant levels of immigration. When the history of the period between the mid-1990s and 2010 is written, how this country coped will be the most amazing social feature of it. The numbers and the queues grew week by week, requiring measures to be implemented. However, we were always imbued with the idea that people should be treated with courtesy, hospitality, justice and equality. These values form the basis of the Bill before us.

Second Stage also allows to us discuss issues in general terms. I do not intend to raise individual cases because the Minister already hears enough about them from me. I recall when the Ceann Comhairle, as Minister, brought to Cabinet the places where asylum seekers would be housed. In Athlone, 400 mobile homes were made available for families. Some concerns were expressed that the natives would vent their opposition. However, nothing ever happened because they were relatively satisfied. Employment was provided because it was needed and an integration process was pursued. It was quite remarkable.

I pay tribute to the primary schools in areas into which there was such a huge influx of immigrants. These schools and the Department of Education and Science set about their task with great gusto in the belief that those coming to our shores are entitled to a basic education. I have visited the asylum seekers' site in Athlone on occasion. It is remarkable to watch youngsters returning home from school and alighting from the buses on which they have travelled. They all arrive on different buses because they are sent to various primary schools. It is not the case that all the children from the asylum seekers' site were sent to one school. Instead, they attend several schools within the catchment area. As a result, they enrich the lives of the young pupils who were already in the classrooms and the general culture of the schools.

I wish to comment on one of the remarkable aspects of the immigration process. My eldest grandchild, who is five, often speaks to me about his friends in primary school. To us, their names sound strange. However, that is not the case for those in primary school. The names Mark, Peter and John sound just as strange to people who have come to this country. A remarkable osmosis has occurred. Very young children's eyes are never blinded and they know no prejudice. They look on the world with a clear gaze and they are able to absorb an amazing amount in respect of those whom they meet, speak with or see. That is a fine development and it bodes well for a society which in a few years will, in every sense, be truly integrated.

If 10% of the population is comprised of immigrants, it is bound to have some impression on every facet of life in our country. That is as it should be. I recall the famous line from John Donne that "No man is an island". In an era when we debate the WTO, globalisation etc., what is happening here represents a true globalisation.

I wish to refer to a number of matters. I am sure they will be discussed in detail on Committee Stage. The Minister referred to the introduction of a statutory long-term resident status at section 36 and stated:

This status will be available for those who have at least five years' satisfactory residence in the State. Periods as an asylum seeker or short-term student will not be reckoned.

There is another group of long-term residents in Ireland. These people came here and, through no fault of the then Administration or the existing arrangements, discovered the decision-making process relating to their asylum applications took some time to complete. As a result, some of them spent four or five years as asylum seekers. In my view, these individuals may feel aggrieved about the exclusion, under the statutory long-term resident status provision, relating to periods people may have spent as asylum seekers. Perhaps consideration could be given to this matter. A sizeable group of people in this country were obliged to wait for long periods while their asylum applications were decided upon. A mechanism should be found whereby these people can be accommodated.

On family reunification, a number of matters will have to be resolved. A protocol will emerge after a period but there is a clear need for family reunification. I accept that there could be inherent dangers in respect of this matter. However, we should not always perceive matters in the context that there are dragons to be slain. We should deal with the facts as they emerge and are put to us. If we can deal with such facts, we should do so.

I accept that integration is not part of the Minister's brief. However, the Government has placed particular emphasis on the process relating thereto by appointing a Minister of State with responsibility in this regard. There is much to be done as regards integration. The Minister will be responsible for ensuring there will be coherence in terms of how we deal with those already here and those who will come in the future. Integration will be of major importance to the people who are already here. There is no point in any group of people sitting uneasily on the sidelines. In my view, arrangements should not be made in respect of such a provision.

There are a number of young people who attended primary and post-primary school and who have progressed to our institutes of technology and universities. In this regard, I have in mind a particular family the name of which I shall not be revealing. The family is in this country legally because the mother has an Irish-born child and was in this country when doing so meant one could stay. Her daughter is extremely bright and is attending one of the institutes of technology. She garnered a huge number of points in her leaving certificate and is making great strides. It is amazing that many immigrants lap up what the education system has to offer. These individuals are wonderfully open and receptive to learning, which is good. The young woman to whom I refer will be obliged to discontinue her studies, however, because she cannot pay her fees. The college was decent enough to reduce them from €12,000 to €8,000 but her family does not have a chance of raising the money to allow her to continue her studies. A humanitarian appeal, made by a number of people, including me, is pending. The purpose of it is to see if there is any way the young woman can remain within the State.

The State provides free education at primary and second level. The natural outcome of that is that bright young people will be encouraged to pursue third level courses. However, questions arise in certain instances as to how they might do so. I accept this matter is not relevant to the Bill but it must be examined.

I commend the Minister and those who work with him in the Department on a very balanced Bill. In my view, the Bill is just and humane. It is time we dealt with all of the matters that arise. There has sometimes been laxity, an overemphasis on particular points or concerns among people regarding these matters.

It would be wonderful if we could invite everyone who wants to come here to do so and be provided for. However, the world is not like that. Our small country has major commitments to its citizens both here and throughout the world. We must be fair both to those who come and to those who are already here. We must strike a balance between equality and justice.

I hope people will raise many points on Committee Stage. I look forward to the emergence of the full protocol relating to family reunification.

The family reunification issue is coming up more and more. I have a simple proposition and if it sounds like Pollyanna, so be it. I think the best of anybody who approaches me until I find out otherwise. There is no point approaching everybody with suspicion and wondering what they are up to. I believe each person who comes to me with their tale and if I can help I will. If I cannot, I am satisfied to say very definitely to a person, group or family that something cannot be done. I know enough about the system to realise this is the best approach to take.

I commend the thrust of the Bill and the Irish people, who within the space of ten years have been remarkably open and welcoming of the population which has come to our shores. It is by far a different story from what we met in the early days of our own emigration.

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