Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I bring a serious matter to the Leader's attention. Galway Rape Crisis Centre has informed my that men are hanging around direct provision centres and hostels, openly soliciting women and children for trafficking in prostitution. It has further informed my that 20% of its clients seeking counselling following rape and sexual abuse are asylum seekers and refugees. When one considers that less than 1% of Galway's population is comprises asylum seekers and refugees, this is completely disproportionate. I want the Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Health and Children to commence an immediate investigation into this. Clearly something is wrong here. It costs €27,000 per year to keep an asylum seeker in these direct provision centres. If the social welfare system was used it would probably cost approximately €18,000 only, plus they have no dignity and no privacy. It is not working. I want to prevent the need for another Ryan report in ten years' time. From the facts I have received, we could be sitting on one, as it were.

I was delighted to see Mr. David McWilliams write in yesterday's Irish Independent that farming is integral to the smart economy in Ireland. The Government is presiding over the strangulation of farming. When a 110-cow dairy farmer is now on farm assist, it is an outrage. Does the Leader know how difficult it is to qualify for farm assist? It is very difficult. I am receiving calls from farmers who are on the breadline, particularly in Galway and elsewhere in the west where there are disadvantaged categories of land. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food must see sense. He must be brought into the House.