Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue. On the attacks on the Indian community, I have many Indian neighbours in the housing estate I live in. Most of them are working in the health services and they are doing great work and are very good people. We need to counter these racist attacks on them. We need a fair, efficient and rules-based immigration system. The current system is chaotic and inadequate. Those who are genuinely fleeing war, persecution or famine must be granted protection. Racism directed against them must be rejected. Those who do not meet the criteria for international protection, as the Minister said, have to leave. According to figures he gave, four out of five applicants in the first part of this year were failing their first assessment. That means changes are required to the system. It also means the 20% who pass the first assessment are not getting the assistance they need because the resources are not there for that. It is clear the list of so-called safe countries needs to be expanded. I mean this is in a fair way because there are more than 11 safe countries in the world. Those who are coming from safe countries are, as we know, less likely to be granted international protection. Assessments need to be quicker to be fairer to the applicants. They need to be done in three or four months, not three or four years, and appeals in cases that fail need to be done in a shorter timeframe.

In any case, there needs to be a shorter timeframe. People should not languish for years in direct provision centres. When I was Chair of the public accounts committee I was told by the Secretary General that a person was in it for 15 years. What is that about? If a person’s application and appeals fail, they have to leave the State. Their departure must be verified, but that is not happening. When I asked the question at the public accounts committee the Secretary General told me the person gets a letter to their last known address. That is it. He told me that last year. It is on the record of the public accounts committee. If that is the system, it is not a system that is working. Those who are granted international protection must be assisted in every way possible. This is key. We have to help these people integrate and live here with training, work and other supports to ensure those who are genuinely fleeing war, persecution or famine are assisted in every way possible. Racism must be countered and that has to start in the schools. Parents have an obligation here as well. The Day report recommendations need to be implemented so we have a smaller number of large reception centres and people are transitioned quickly. Instead, we have applicants living in old pubs, converted shops and substandard accommodation. This is becoming big business and we must move away from it.

See this speech in context