Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Bill is a good Bill, with the caveat that we have some concerns. I appreciate the reason our amendment was ruled out of order. The issues are pertinent to the difficulties encountered by asylum seekers and those who are trafficked. I refer to the issues of identification of victims, the supports available for victims of trafficking when they have been identified and the preparation of witnesses. The related provisions need to be strengthened. I refer also to the wider issues of the inadequacy of direct provision centres and the right for asylum seekers to work while awaiting the outcome of the asylum process so that people are not relying on small payments while living in direct provision centres that are almost institutions. This is the issue of our time. I ask the Minister to continue to consider how the wider system can be reformed.

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