David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Irish people, or at least the vast majority of them, will never be led by extreme voices when it comes to immigration because Irish people are fair and welcoming. We have seen that over the course of many years. Properly managed immigration enriches a society. We see this in our hospitals with nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants and specialists right across the health service coming here from a vast array of different countries to work in our hospitals. People support that and benefit from it. However, while they are fair, Irish people also want common sense. When it comes to immigration, I have to say they do not see it. Over recent years, we have seen no planning ahead, no engagement and no follow-up with communities. This creates an unnecessary tension and unnecessary problems. That is clearly down to a failure of planning.

As with other speakers, I am not in favour of open borders. We need a managed immigration system. However, it has to be one that is fair, efficient and enforced. The current system is not fair and it is not efficient because it takes far too long for applications to be processed. We have been pointing this out for years. People are stuck in direct provision centres, often for years after a decision has been made to refuse their application. They are not returned home but stay in reception centres taking up space when we now have people coming in and being given sleeping bags and tents. These are people who are going through the system and who will qualify for international protection. Unless people see a system that is fair, efficient and enforced, more people will become frustrated with Government and with the political system.

I agree with Deputy Kerrane on the approach of the Minister and her Government over recent years, which has been to buy or rent properties from very wealthy individuals who are making a lot of money out of this and to have people in centres where they are out of sight and out of mind and do not have access to services. There is no planning as to what is needed in each parish and community, which is exactly what we should not be doing. Unless we pick up speed in processing applications, unless people see that fairness and unless people see the system being enforced, which it currently is not, people will become more and more frustrated. My party is in favour of a far, efficient and enforced system.

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