Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom tacú leis an méid a bhí le rá ag an Seanadóir Zappone maidir le cúrsaí eacnamaíochta. Ní hé an tOllamh Paul Krugman amháin atá ag cur an chineáil sin comhairle orainn. Senator Zappone referred to a book by Paul Krugman. I wish to refer to a recently published report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development which should be debated in the House. The report to which I refer states that fiscal austerity and wage compression have damaged the potential for economic growth in many countries across the globe that are employing those types of economic policies. It also says that in many European states, including Ireland, austerity is not working and argues in favour of a different economic model which would reduce the gap between income and wealth.

This report justifies the stance taken by Sinn Féin in recent years and time should be given in the House to debate its findings.

I welcome the publication of the text of the referendum on children's rights as a positive move forward in our efforts to protect the welfare of children in this country. However, I take this opportunity to draw Members' attention to the plight of the scores of children currently residing in the Lisbrook direct provision centre in Galway, all of whom are facing a very uncertain future. Residents of the centre were told two weeks ago that they were to be moved without delay and scattered to the four corners of the island. Fortunately, following public pressure and a great deal of media attention, a stay of execution was granted by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter. These children are living in what is essentially an open prison. They have no rights and face the threat of being taken out of their communities and schools and away from their support structures at any moment. With a few notable exceptions, public representatives have turned a blind eye to the issue. My party intends to organise a presentation on their behalf and we are calling for a debate in this House on the system of direct provision. Before the last election, the current Government parties were in agreement that it was an intolerable and disastrous way of dealing with asylum seekers. What we have seen is the privatisation of a system which should never have been introduced in the first place, yet, despite the fact that the Government has been in place for 18 months, there has been no change in this area and no indication that any will take place in the foreseeable future. Will the Leader invite the Minister to the House to discuss this issue without delay? The way these people are being treated is appalling. If our citizens abroad were treated in the same way, there would be a massive public outcry.