Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The direct provision systems should be a source of shame to us all, particularly considering the history of people from our country seeking sanctuary from hunger and oppression in other places across the world. The direct provision system has failed utterly those who have sought asylum and also local host communities.

I was struck recently in listening to recollections of those who were in mother and baby homes and Magdalen laundries by how similar some of these were to the reports we have received up to today from residents in direct provisions. There are stories of an uncaring system where human beings are treated essentially as less by officialdom and administrators and there is fear underlying every consideration as to whether a complaint should be made about mistreatment. In short, direct provision has been a scandal and every Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Green Party, Progressive Democrat or other Minister in a Government that has overseen it should be ashamed of it.

Host communities have also been failed. Instead of the policy being underpinned by integration, the approach by Government agencies, including very senior officials, has been marked by secrecy and hostility. Communities with virtually no investment and which have seen services such as schools, Garda stations and GPs being removed find one day, without any consultation, that their local hotel is being turned into a direct provision centre. It is little wonder that racist and far-right groups see opportunity in this. At the same time this utterly failed system has cost €1.6 billion over 20 years and therein lies one of the challenges faced by the Minister. There are vested interests who have made millions of euro from this inhumane regime. Only in this country could Fianna Fáil formulate a system designed to support some of the most vulnerable people in our society and turn it into a funnel to direct profits to the usual cronies.

This White Paper is welcome but the Minister and his Government will be judged on actions and results rather than rhetoric. I sincerely hope that within this term, we will be able to say collectively the shame of direct provision can be put behind us and we can create a humane system that supports people seeking international protection in our country along with the communities in which we hope they can integrate.

See this speech in context