John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Deputy Pringle on bringing this important motion to the House. Many Deputies on the Government side of the House have made a compelling case for supporting this motion and having spoken to Amnesty International and other groups on the issue I will be bitterly disappointed if the motion is voted down. I will be particularly disappointed if the Labour Party Deputies vote against it.

It has been stated on a number of occasions that the rise in asylum applications has to do with the impression that the economy is improving across Europe. The number of asylum seekers has increased. The Irish Refugee Council has stated categorically that what we are now seeing is the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War, but that the increase in asylum applications has nothing to do with an improving economy but with the horrendous and inhumane conditions millions of people suffer around the world, where human rights are non-existent, people have no religious or political freedom and there is no freedom of expression. Sentient human beings deserve a quality of life and where conditions are bad they strive to move on so as to better their lives and conditions.

Where do these people look to to achieve this? They look to the democratic process across Europe. They look to France, England, Ireland and other European countries. They have heard Ireland is the island of 100,000 welcomes and have heard how pleasant the Irish people are. Then they arrive here and we incarcerate them. There is a large group of students outside the Dáil tonight. None of these is a refugee, but they are all carrying a sign that says "Ten years in gaol". Essentially, this is what we are condemning human beings who seek asylum in this country to. We are here talking about people who are experiencing the type of life none of us would wish to experience, even in part. During the past week, I spoke to a chap whose brother had his two hands cut off due to the warfare taking place in parts of Nigeria between Christians and Muslims. Both of his grandparents were burnt to death. People like this chap had no choice but to come to Europe, to seek a democracy like that in Ireland in the hope they would be treated with respect and dignity, but that is not happening.

Civil servants should hang their heads in shame for the creation of these institutions and procedures. I know they were not introduced by the Minister of State or the previous Minister, but somebody set out the procedure for how people should live in these centres or institutions. These procedures were probably set up by somebody who never met an immigrant. That must be the case, because if they saw the conditions in which these people live, they would not prescribe those conditions. It is institutional racism.

If a situation arose in this country where thousands of people had to leave because of political, religious or personal persecution, it would be interesting to know whether they would be incarcerated for ten years if they arrived in England, America or Australia.

Looking ahead, what would we think if we imagined that is what might happen to them?

We cannot wait a year or even six months. The Minister of State must have visited some of these centres, as I have. He must have seen how children are being brought up, how they stand in line for their breakfast every morning and then stand in line for their dinner, and they do this for ten years, or from the time they can stand at three or four years of age. It is appalling and outrageous. The Minister of State should support the motion.

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