David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The NGOs quoted as supporting this Bill also welcomed IHAP. It is clear to all that the situation that existed around the time of the 1996 Act has changed radically. That is why we are among the few countries proactively delivering on humanitarian responses in a compassionate and timely way.

IHAP is very flexible and that is why we have it. Deputy Rabbitte was not in the House when I quoted the numbers who, in a very short time, we will be bringing here under IHAP. It really works. It is flexible and the Minister has discretion. The Bill that the Deputies are supporting now gets rid of that discretion and could do a pile of damage, and that is my concern.

In some EU countries, the time limit is three months and economic conditions apply. Our legislation does not do that. In Germany, anyone granted subsidiary protection was prohibited from family reunification for the past two years. We allow such applications.

I join Deputy Wallace in commending Wexford, his constituency, because it has been at the forefront in welcoming refugees. Maybe the Deputy has something to do with that. The Wexford local authority is to be commended on its welcoming and housing of refugees.

Unfortunately, I am aware of the protests outside. I, myself, have been targeted quite a bit because of this recently.

Ireland has played a positive role in the global compact. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, will sign it next week on behalf of the country. Many other countries have pulled out of that.

I also make the point that family reunification is not about breaking up family units abroad to extend the family unit here. We must be careful about that too. We are focusing on families who very much need our humanitarian assistance now. That is what we want to do. That is what IHAP does.

I urge Deputies to think again about supporting this Bill. Members know me as passionate about this. This Bill, I believe, can do a lot more harm than good. I ask the Deputies to look at it again and withdraw it and let us have another think about it, maybe in the committee. Maybe the committee could convene and discuss the Bill beforehand. We are definitely not in the position.

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