Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I too extend best wishes to the new Garda Commissioner. She will have many challenges. I encourage the Government to bring forward legislation on the independent policing authority with all speed.

I want to discuss the Landlord and Tenant Bill and the Immigration Residence and Protection Bill 2013. Tá an iomarca duine ar na sráideanna, páistí san áireamh. Is mór an náire é don Stát agus don Rialtas. Ba chóir go mbeadh sábhailteacht agus cinnteacht ag duine sa teach ina bhfuil sé nó sí ina chónaí nó ina cónaí. Táim ag lorg eolas faoin mBille maidir le landlord and tenant issues.

It is not hyperbole to say and the Taoiseach has acknowledged that we have a housing crisis. Up to 200 people are sleeping rough on our streets. It is very wintry weather. There are people moving from hostel to hostel night after night, families split up and tens of thousands of families in below standard homes. When will the Landlord and Tenant Bill be published?

I thank the Taoiseach for clarifying yesterday the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill. He said that it is not proceeding at present but is being redrafted because there were many amendments to it. The Taoiseach acknowledged that the time spent by some asylum seekers in direct provision is not acceptable.

In October, the Minister for Justice and Equality kindly wrote to me to say she hoped that legislation on the length of time asylum seekers spend in direct provision would be introduced this year. Could the Taoiseach update me on this aspect of the matter? I note that the Taoiseach has written to President Obama on his proposals to regularise the status of thousands of undocumented Irish in the US. While I welcome that, I would like to point out that there are many illegal immigrants in this country. Like their counterparts in the US, they simply want to pay their taxes and live normal lives. When will the legislation promised by the Minister for Justice and Equality to deal with this matter be published?

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