Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)

I state unequivocally that we do not ever condone violence. The events in Drogheda over the weekend were deeply disturbing and there is absolutely no place in this country for such behaviour, no matter who owns the building. Let us be honest, however, that condemning violence is only part of the conversation. We must also confront the systematic failure in our immigration system. These failures are causing real harm to decent and law abiding people. Let us consider the South African man I am helping. He travelled from Mizen Head to Dublin today without an appointment and desperate to secure a visa for his wife. He has been waiting since March. He is a respected member of my community and his story is not unique. It is emblematic of a system that is failing. In Bandon there is a man who is married to an Irish citizen. He is still waiting for a visa despite having a ten-week-old baby. In Clonakilty another man is trying to reunite with his Brazilian partner who was forced to leave the country due to the delays in securing a de facto visa. These are people who contribute to our communities and who are trying to do things the right way, yet they are met with bureaucratic indifference and endless obstacles. Meanwhile we have IPAS centres housing individuals with deportation orders. Serious questions remain unanswered about how non-residents, including vulnerable children in Tusla care, ended up being assaulted by a resident of the Citywest campus. The Minister's reply to my parliamentary questions confirmed that around 500 people who are subject to deportation orders are currently residing in IPAS centre accommodation. This is not just a policy failure; this is a safeguarding crisis. Let me say something that some seem to be afraid to say: I do not believe it is wrong to take care of our own people first. What is so controversial about that? We have over 16,000 people homeless in this country. Where is the help for them? When we are passengers on an airplane, we are told that in the case of an emergency we must put on our own oxygen masks first before helping others. That is not selfish; that is common sense.

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