Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The term "locked away" might not be appropriate but if I was an asylum seeker waiting ten years for my case to be adjudicated on and I was confined to a small area in a hotel, I would certainly call it being locked away. The Minister of State knows if all our families were put together in a small space, how long we would stay sane in it. That is one part of the argument.

He has answered the second part. He has spoken about communications with the Department of Education and Skills and other Departments. My information comes from speaking to the medical and educational people. There certainly was no communication with the people. There was no communication with the community. What is wrong with the Government that it cannot come and talk to people? Does it think people are foolish? They are human beings. I have a significant issue with direct provision. I have said it before and will say again that it is legalised people trafficking.

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