Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this topic. I would like to thank Deputy Pringle and his colleagues for bringing it forward. Many people's human rights and culture are being violated. Sometimes our own culture is being violated in this State and needs looking at. One thing that is for certain is that we must look not the issue of citizenship in respect of those who have come into this country, settled, lived happily and who have worked hard. There is a lack of urgency in the Department of Justice on the issue of citizenship. It is a debacle and it has been handled very poorly. Applicants who have applied for citizenship and have all their paperwork in order still wait years to get citizenship. Some of these applicants are also front-line workers. It is an important point. These people must be treated in a fair manner. It is time for the process to be speeded up for all involved. Surely, in a world where everything is done online, there should be no need for long delays in the processing of applications. I know a significant number of people who are front-line workers and who need their applications processed. Their human rights are being violated to a point because it has been put off for a number of years. These people have helped to save lives in Bantry Hospital and other hospitals throughout west Cork.

Previous speakers raised the housing issue. It is quite serious and it has been neglected. The other day I spoke to a gentleman from Sudan who is living in east Cork. I presume it would be the same no matter who he was. He is living in squalid conditions because he cannot get a house. It is fine to say "Céad Míle Fáilte" to those coming into our country, and then violate their human rights by letting them live in almost squalid conditions. The man I spoke to is desperate to get a home for himself and his children. These are issues that come before us on a daily basis. To be honest, people's rights are being violated. We can touch on the issue of direct provision. I spoke on it last year and there was a lot controversy afterwards. My point was misconstrued, of course, and people made of it what they wanted. There should not a situation in which people come into this country and are treated horribly in direct provision centres. It must be sorted out. People cannot live in the misery that they are currently. I was justified in saying what I did at the time, but nobody wanted to listen.

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