Cyprian Brady (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I will share my time with Deputy Sargent if he comes into the Chamber. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this important Bill.

For many years, we have struggled to adapt our systems to cope with a large influx of people from all parts of the world. My own experience in the Dublin Central constituency, which has the one of highest concentrations of non-national communities in the country, indicates that while the demographic changes of the past several years have enriched this city, they have also presented problems. On a weekly basis at my constituency advice centres I encounter individuals and families who end up in worrying and, in some cases, traumatic circumstances which were not of their own making. This Bill will ensure that people who find they cannot progress their residency status in this country are looked after. It will ensure that decisions are made efficiently.

There has been a large change in demographics, particularly in our major cities. We have now reached a critical stage in how we deal with this issue. The system badly needs reform and everybody accepts that. There were attempts in 2008 to introduce a Bill to deal with this, and such was the diversity of opinion on the Bill that it had to be withdrawn. The introduction of this Bill takes into account the various views that were expressed during those debates.

We need to look at our systems from two points of view. First, we must take into account what is best for the country. Second, we must take into account the point of view of those who have come here for different reasons. Why do people come here? Up until the 1990s we had a rich tradition in refugee programmes in Ireland and it was quietly and effectively administered. We have a large Vietnamese population who came here in the 1970s and 1980s and even earlier. The changes that took place in the 1990s and the last decade unfortunately put a great strain on the system that we currently have in place.

We were told a few years ago that we needed thousands of migrant workers to keep our economy going. We got those workers from within the EU and from all over the world. However, that led to enormous pressure being put on the immigration system. While efforts have been made over the years to increase the number of staff dealing with applications, to streamline decision making and so on, it has not worked. Now that the country is in its current economic position, our immigration system is not fit for purpose. This Bill will ensure that an integrated system is put in place to deal with all the issues that arise.

I deal on a weekly basis with families and individuals who find themselves caught up in a system that puts them in a very untenable position. They cannot move one way or the other. They are waiting on decisions to be made. They have provided as much information as they can, but unfortunately the system cannot cope with their cases. There are four or five different stages of application for asylum and refugee status and all of them can be appealed, ultimately to the Supreme Court. There are cases involving people who are here for up to ten years and who have still not received a firm decision on their status. People have put down roots in that length of time. Their families have grown up. They have made friends and connections in their local communities. They have become part of their local community and they have contributed to it. We cannot expect people to tell them one day that they have to leave. We now find ourselves in the position of having to make those decisions.

While some improvements have taken place in speeding up the process, it can take years for a case to be finalised. That is not fair to the applicant who provides as much information as possible, but it is also not fair to the people dealing with them if they have not got the tools to deal with these cases. Sections in the Bill will ensure that people who come to this country for whatever reason - be it economic reasons, for refugee status or for asylum purposes - will have their cases dealt with effectively so they are not left in limbo. Previous speakers spoke about the current system of direct provision and pointed out that there are people in that system for up to seven years, even though their situation is supposed to be temporary. This Bill will deal with that aspect.

The main purpose of the Bill is to provide a fair and transparent set of procedures for the day to day implementation of Government policies on immigration and protection, and to ensure that the State's immigration and protection system complies with all our international obligations in this area. We have a reputation in this area. We have always been seen as a good destination for people abroad. We speak English and have a welcoming nature in this country, and that has always attracted people from all over the world.

An important innovation in the Bill will be the introduction of a statutory long-term resident status. This status will be available for those who have at least five years' satisfactory residence in the State and will provide access to the employment market and State funded services and benefits generally on a par with Irish citizens. This provision is in Part V of the Bill. A provision is also made for the imposition by an immigration officer of a residence and reporting requirement on a foreign national, instead of that person being arrested and detained, which is the current position.

There is much detail in the Bill and I welcome its publication because we have reached a situation where the immigration system is completely under strain. It is not fair to either side and so I welcome the Bill.

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