Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I thank Deputy Clare Daly, who secured the time for the Bill through the Business Committee. I acknowledge the work of Senator Kelleher, the Irish Refugee Council and Oxfam, representatives of which are in the Public Gallery. I acknowledge the presence of Senator Higgins who has been a great supporter of Senator Kelleher in getting it to this stage. Fianna Fáil will continue to support the Bill. Fianna Fáil supported the passage of the International Protection Act 2015 as it provided for the introduction of a single procedure for international protection applications. It was a key recommendation of the McMahon working group on direct provision. The old system led to excessive delays in processing applications resulting in asylum seekers spending many years awaiting a decision on their application.

Since the Act commenced there has been a reduction in the time spent in direct provision, which we welcome. I acknowledge a commitment was made to provide for 4,000 refugees at the height of the refugee crisis and another to provide for the 200 unaccompanied minors. A number of issues have arisen regarding the implementation of these commitments. The number of refugees Ireland received was less than the target. These issues are not relevant to tonight's debate. The issue is that the legislation has led to deeply inhumane situations. Families have been unable to trace children within a year and have lost the right to family reunification.

There are numerous cases and Deputy Clare Daly spoke about them earlier. I will tell the Minister of State about a case in my constituency of a young man who came here seeking asylum.

See this speech in context