John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am deeply concerned that instead of trying to dismantle the shameful and unacceptable direct provision system, the Government is hell-bent on expanding the number of centres operating across the State. Direct provision is the incarceration of innocent people and, with good reason, it is often referred to as the Magdalen laundries of our generation. I received an email last week from the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, last week to invite me and others to a meeting tomorrow evening to outline its proposals to open a direct provision centre in the Grand Hotel in Wicklow town. This was somewhat disingenuous as I am informed that 13 rooms in the hotel are currently occupied under RIA's direct provision system already. As such, it appears this is not a proposal but is already being rolled out. Centres are often referred to as "holding camps" and as sites of deportability. For the Department to open another centre in the Grand Hotel in Wicklow town amid public outrage at the system is to show utter contempt for public opinion and refugees alike.

There is also a great deal of concern in the country about the loss of the only hotel in Wicklow town and the impact of that on tourism. Questions have been asked about how this fits into the recently launched tourism strategy for Wicklow. To open a new direct provision centre in Wicklow town will not serve the vulnerable people we must serve and protect as they arrive in the State seeking international protection. It will also not serve the recently launched tourism strategy. The only people it will serve are those private parties who are making multiple millions from this system. What is the Minister doing to dismantle the direct provision system? What process is used to identify the accommodation centres used? In this instance in Wicklow, were other centres actually considered?

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