Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

A debate would be welcome. I wish to mention that Africa Day will take place on Friday and congratulate the people for organising it. Today a very good conference is being held at Trinity College Dublin. It was organised by the Trinity International Development Initiative and deals with development issues in Africa. I also welcome the development of the Africa Agrifood Development Fund. It is a positive move forward.

Unfortunately, not everybody from Africa will be in a position to celebrate in this country. This week, I received the very disturbing news that the Galway Refugee Support Group will close down due to a lack of funding. That is a detrimental step backwards. It is important to have a debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality on asylum seekers here, particularly on the development of the immigration Bill which has been long fingered and kicked into touch once more by him. I talked to people from the Galway Refugee Support Group and people in this country are living in desperate conditions while in direct provision. Some of them have waited up to ten years to get a case hearing and to resolve the issue. It is very important that we deal with these people. We would jump up and down if it happened to one of our citizens anywhere else around the world. There are huge issues around health, inadequate food, lack of an independent complaints mechanism, right to privacy, right to dignity, etc. A broad ranging debate on asylum seekers and the immigration Bill is necessary. Where is it? Why can it not be brought forward? The legislation is extremely important.

I welcome Africa Day and in true Irish fashion the celebration has been extended to almost a week. Go raibh míle maith agat.