Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. It is still the case that 57% of all applicants apply physically by arriving at Mount Street. We need to look at what happens in other countries, where they have a series of different locations where people can apply for international protection. It does not appear to make sense to me that we have only one or two physical locations where people apply. We should also be considering applying new technologies so people can apply online for international protection without the necessity of having to arrive here with all the trauma it can give rise to.

We need to look at this because it will not be sustainable for the people of Mount Street, the businesses on Mount Street and the people coming into the city centre. We need to take into account our capital city also. As I have said previously, we have great sympathy for the people seeking international protection but I must also represent the interests of the very decent people who live in the area, who are hesitant about speaking out about it because they are subject to criticism but whose lives are being significantly undermined, as is their quality of life, by this ongoing problem on Mount Street. I ask the Minister to consider it for review.

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