Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for clarifying the position on funding. Later this week we will be talking about biodiversity and the lack of biodiversity officers, who are scarce on the ground. When we asked questions about that, there was not enough money. I just want to put it in perspective. There is a huge lack of staff.

There are almost 22 years of history in this regard. Direct provision was to be temporary. We all welcomed the White Paper.

We had Catherine Day with another document. We had McMahon with another document and the Ombudsman. They all told us that direct provision was inhuman and had to be phased out. I welcomed the steps the Minister took in relation to that but I knew it would not happen because we have a housing crisis. All the eggs were being put in the basket of public housing which was not available. The review is extremely important to establish how we will end direct provision.

It is deplorable that we have introduced a two-tier system for refugees and asylum seekers. It is appalling that Ukrainian refugees are treated in one way and asylum seekers from other countries in another.

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