Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

First, we should acknowledge that today is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. We should acknowledge the Taoiseach's new global status as the champion of immigrants. He had 30 million plus hits for his speech in Washington. I invite the Taoiseach to co-sign a motion that has already been signed by 36 Deputies to end direct provision in this country. Deputy Boyd Barrett told me that he was a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions which recommended ending direct provision two years ago. Direct provision was described by the former judge, Bryan McMahon, as a deplorable system, one in which people are like ghosts and that they are dehumanised and depressed.

Two weeks ago during the debate on the Tuam babies issues, the Taoiseach said he hoped in 20 years' time that another Taoiseach would not have to stand in the Chamber and make an apology for the way people are treated in institutions in this country. I am concerned that if we do not set out to end the inhumane direct provision system we will be looking at a generation of children who were raised under those conditions who are dehumanised, depressed and ignored. Could we get cross-party agreement to dedicate some time to discussing this very fundamental and important issue and to seek to find a way to implement the decision of the committee to end direct provision?

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