Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Senator Buttimer. A politician in another country is spending much time quoting Dr. Martin Luther King when he says certain issues require an urgent passion for now. The subject we are discussing is one such issue. We spend much time talking about infrastructure, public spending and other issues in this House. Problems created in these areas can be fixed later. The issue of social integration and the kind of society we want is very different. If we do not make the correct decisions in respect of these matters, future generations will reap very negative consequences as a result of our lack of action in and focus on this area.

This matter must be set against a backdrop of an experience of integration in Ireland which has been very positive. I live in and represent an area that has experienced colossal change in a short period. I have been struck by how, for the majority of people, this has been a positive experience which has led to the economic, social and religious regeneration of areas that needed it.

The kind of integration for which we must strive is that which gives people arriving here the ability to live independent lives and which allows them to be respected. These people's lives must not be completely separate from the country and society they have entered. To date, we have by and large been able to facilitate people in this regard.

One of the many questions we must answer is whether our success in this area was achieved by design or through luck. In view of the rapid change taking place and the degree to which our society has changed so quickly, I am of the view that this success has been achieved more through luck than by design. I do not mean this as a criticism because the luck to which I refer is that which we have generated. It is luck that draws upon the many positive qualities of Irish people, namely, the desire to be generous and to respect other people who are trying to look after themselves and their families and create a better life for all.

There are, however, a number of areas in respect of which we should refocus our attention to ensure we do the right thing by those arriving into the country and the people already living here. Previous speakers referred to some of these areas so I will not dwell on them at length. I will concentrate on those areas in respect of which not much was said.

The first matter to which I wish to refer involves children arriving in Ireland with adults who are not their parents or with whom they do not have a close positive relationship. After a short period, these children are frequently stranded here without adults who can look after them. I have seen figures which indicate there are up to 300 such minors in Ireland who find themselves in that position. I cannot think of a situation that would be more desperate or wretched than being a young person stranded in a country where one was not born, with which one has little or no cultural affinity and with nobody to look after one. The relevant agencies must up their game in dealing with this issue. Barnardos has pointed out the frequency with which such children are abandoned and the need for us to deal with the matter.

The second issue to which I wish to refer is that involving the operation of the refugee tribunals. It is scandalous that certain individuals are being treated in a particular way by some of these tribunals. It was stated in the House earlier in the week that a member of one of the refugee tribunals has consistently refused people entry to this country and continually prevented them from being treated in a dignified and fair manner. The degree of discussion taking place in respect of this matter and the priority it is being given is scandalous. It is important that we should take action in this regard in a more urgent and passionate fashion.

Ireland is the most globalised small country in the world. Our recent success has been built on our unique ability to benefit from flows of capital. The challenge we face is to ensure we benefit socially, culturally and economically from the flows of people that will enter the country in the future. We should not just refer to these individuals as a flow of labour.