Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no reason to become a refugee if it requires a person to exchange one set of fears for another set of fears. With this in mind, we must ask if we can honestly argue that asylum seekers in Ireland are free from fear of persecution. According to the UN refugee convention, fear of persecution looks not only to the past and present but also to the future. In short, it looks at what the future promises. Every person looks to the future not only for himself or herself but especially for his or her children. It is in fear for their future and that of their children that many have left their country of origin.

A refugee system in which asylum seekers are held for years in what can only be described as camps creates worry and breeds fear that worse is to come. This has been affirmed in many requests I have received for intervention both in my capacity as a politician and solicitor. Many of the individuals and families in the asylum system are known to me personally.

It is obvious that conditions in the asylum system are creating a new type of fear for refugees and their children, some of whom were born in Ireland and will no doubt grow up as Irish citizens. It is not in the interests of this country that these children should grow up with a sense that they were discriminated against because of circumstances in which they had no say. If we act now, we may avoid the experience of other countries which have been dealing with displaced persons for longer than Ireland.

I welcome the action that is being taken in this area, including the round-table consultation that has taken place and the decision to establish a future working group. Action must be swift. We must act immediately to ensure the system deals expeditiously with people who present seeking asylum. Some of the residents of asylum centres have great talents, have much to offer this country and want to work and achieve fulfilment, as we all wish to do. The process that determines whether applicants qualify for asylum takes much too long, which is the reason many asylum seekers reside in direct provision centres. The issue must be addressed urgently to create confidence in the asylum process among citizens and asylum seekers.

In light of the many graphic accounts we have heard of the distressing circumstances and poor standards that prevail in some direct provision centres, we should ensure families, particularly children, are looked after properly. As has been stated, we know from our history what happens when the State ignores what is being done in institutions. The speed with which changes are implemented in the asylum system will provide evidence of whether we have learned lessons from the past.

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