Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue. There is merit in an amnesty-type approach at present because we simply cannot have people, and their children who were born here, in the country for so long without making a decision on their status. The problem is that we have never had a proper discussion on this. Why are there so many people in direct provision and why are they being processed so slowly? Are we looking for such a considerable burden of proof that it will never be achieved?

We need to work to a timescale and work out whether people's stories are genuine and whether Ireland has an obligation to take them in. We should remember that the system is not in place to take everybody in; its job is to take in the people who have absolutely no other refuge to go to. Perhaps we need to discuss this also. Do we take in everybody who wants to come here? I do not remember this discussion ever taking place. Personally, I believe we have an obligation to those souls who are crossing into Italy on a regular basis and dying of disease. We have an obligation to the Syrian people who are crossing into Turkey. Turkey has taken in more than 1.5 million people. We need to start examining this problem and being responsible Europeans. It is fine to condemn what is happening abroad, but we need to ask what we can do. The centres have probably reached their term and they need to be dealt with quickly. We need oversight.

I must raise the fact that the stories are not always negative. There are some really good people working in the centres. Only two days ago, I spoke to a chef who works in one of the centres. He was concerned about what we have heard and told me they were giving the residents the best of Irish food. He said he could understand the arguments of people who want to cook for themselves, but the practicalities of families cooking for themselves would make things very difficult as matters stand. Ireland is a food nation and produces food of the best quality. I am glad to say that the residents are at least getting three choices for dinner and lunch. I have to defend the food. The majority of the staff are doing the best they can to provide as good a living environment as they can.

Now that this discussion is taking place, will we talk about the matter sensibly? Will we process people who come to our shores more quickly? Have we got the gumption to refuse people we do not want to come here? There may be people who might not be an addition to our society and might be involved in terrorism or other practices; we do not know. We need to be aware of that; it is something we cannot inflict on our people. Taxpayers' money is paying for the system. If we have a proper discussion on it, the future will be better, not only for Ireland but also for the people who seek our help.

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