Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not really sure where to start there. There will be a general election in due course. I am really looking forward to it because there will definitely be alternative political views on offer. I am not sure who is in this left coalition or whether Sinn Féin is in it.

Maybe its members are not sure themselves either, but they will work it out after they have the review.

Every single week this Government will bring forward new policies, ideas and plans to make progress on some of the issues that are often intractable and difficult because that is what being in Government is about. It is about turning up to work every day, working hard, making decisions and delivering for the people and that is what we intend to do.

The Deputy is beyond wrong when he comes to our approach on migration in terms of how he categorises it. One thing for which I respect the Deputy, and I mean this sincerely, is his consistent calling out of racism. I support him when he does this. We have had exchanges in this House. All of us in this House must continue to call out racism and all examples of racism. I accept the Deputy's bona fides in that regard. When it comes to migration, however, the absolute worst thing for a party of the centre to do, and I know the Deputy might not like parties of the centre, is get off the pitch and shirk responsibility and say it is too difficult and challenging an issue and that there is nothing we can do about it or ask whether it is not just a global challenge and whether we will all just commentate about it. That is a failure of leadership. The only thing that happens when we allow that vacuum to be created is that it gets filled by the far right. I am absolutely determined, as a politician proudly of the centre and as Taoiseach of this country, to not in any way, shape or form allow others to seek to sow division. Therefore, what we are going to do in this country is have a functioning migration system that is fair and has rules. The rules will be applied without fear or favour. We will provide accommodation and shelter, safety and access to sanitation for people. However, we will not just have a conversation about accommodation because that is not the totality of any country's migration policy. We will also talk about processing times. We will talk about how the welfare system interacts and how that happens relative to other European countries. We will, of course, work with the PSNI and others with regard to collaboration because we live in a common travel area. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is doing work in that regard. We will have deportations for those who do not have a right to be here because that is how any migration system must work. We will continue to invest in integration because this country is better as a result of immigration. Our health services, businesses, shops, communities and schools are all the better. This is about having a balanced approach where the compassion of the Irish people is met with a common-sense system that works. Let us be honest if we can with regard to this debate - we are building a migration system in real time. We have gone from approximately 3,500 people per year coming to this country to more than 20,000 people. People are welcome in Ireland. We want to help people who have a right to be here. In order to do that, we need to make sure we have a system that is efficient and effective. Sadly for the Deputy, though, and I know he will continue to do it through his own reasons, this party is not a nasty party. This Government is not a nasty Government when it comes to migration. It is one that actually wants to push back against the rhetoric of the extremes, deliver for people and make sure we have a sustainable system.

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