Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate. I begin by acknowledging the work done by people like Dr. Lucy Michael and by the regional anti-racism groups. I refer specifically to the group in my constituency, which is also the constituency of the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien. Fingal Communities Against Racism, FCAR, is a small group made up of very dedicated individuals. I am very proud to be a member, although I wish I had more time to be involved. I encourage the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, if he has the time, to engage with that group and the wonderful work it does in my area.

When Fianna Fáil introduced direct provision in 2000, it made very sure it was a business-type model. It has since grown into a big business for catering contractors, as has been mentioned, and other companies that seek to tender for the business involved. There are people making an awful lot of money out of the abject misery of the conditions in which people are forced to live. We need to recognise that direct provision is a business model, in place for 21 years, and there are people profiting off the backs of the misery of the people consigned and confined to it. If the issue were not so serious, it would be funny to listen to Government party Deputies talking about mandatory hotel quarantine as a deprivation of liberty or some kind of horrific imposition. I would love for them to see exactly what direct provision is like, because they would genuinely be absolutely horrified.

I want to raise a particular issue that I hope the Minister will add to his agenda. The reception centre in Balseskin in my constituency is accessible, which means persons with disabilities can be facilitated there. However, no account is taken of a person's disability when he or she is transferred from Balseskin. There have been reports directly to FCAR of wheelchair users having to be lifted up the stairs by other residents. There is no dignity in that and it is just awful. All that is needed to prevent it is to match the person with the accommodation. However awful, atrocious and dehumanising the accommodation the Government is providing, and it is, it should at least be made accessible for people with disabilities. We have had cases of residents having to lift their spouse into a bath. That is back-breaking work and it should not be happening. We know the facilities are there. It is simply a question of matching people up with the right facilities. This is something that can be done in the short to medium term. It does not require a White Paper, lengthy debate or any other delay. The international protection accommodation service, IPAS, is aware of this issue and knows what is going on. I ask that the Minister at least add it to his agenda and take account of it. Some of the changes needed in the direct provision system are major and will take time to achieve. This is something that could be done in the short to medium term.

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