Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit arís. Is breá an rud é go bhfuilimid in ann bheith ag Gaeilgeoireacht linn féin arís. Is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh an bheirt atá sa Ghailearaí romham. Tá siad ina gcónaí in ionad dídine Lisbrook i nGaillimh - ionad cóiríochta díreach, mar a deirtear. I welcome my guests from the Lisbrook direct provision centre.

I have raised the question of direct provision because I know that when the Labour Party and Fine Gael were in opposition, they were strongly opposed to the direct provision model, which is very inhumane. Some of these centres have been described as being like open prisons. Those seeking asylum in Ireland are brought to these centres and kept in difficult circumstances. In some cases, there are six people sleeping in one room. It is unsatisfactory that people can be moved with one or two days notice. The residents of these centres do not have access to their native foods and have to eat when they are told to eat. They face difficulties if they wish to go away for a day or two to visit another part of the country. It is very difficult for them to do this. Those in direct provision centres are not satisfied with the length of time it takes to process their applications for citizenship or naturalisation in Ireland.

Members of the Oireachtas were given a presentation today on behalf of those in the Lisbrook centre in Galway. They have been told that the centre is to close down and were given a few days notice. Up to 100 children are staying in the centre and they have just started the new school year. They have new bags and books and gone back to meet their friends. They have integrated into the local community, but they no longer know where they will be next week or the week after. It is a very difficult situation for them and they are not alone in this regard. People in all of the other centres are in a similar position.

I recognise that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, is moving through the processing of applications more quickly then previous Ministers. Although I appreciate this, we still need to do more because the direct provision model is an awful one. We should be ashamed of ourselves for putting it in place. It has involved the privatisation of a system that should never have been privatised. If our citizens were looking for asylum or citizenship in another country and placed in a similar system, there would be a national outcry.

I am very concerned about this issue. When it was proposed to close the direct provision centre at Mosney, the Minister, who was then an Opposition Deputy, actively engaged in the case and fought to keep the centre open and improve standards. Many Labour Party members were also highly critical of the system while in opposition. Having been in power for 18 months, I hope the Government will provide a positive response in which it will agree to change or, I hope, abolish the system of direct provision in order that people who come to Ireland and have a genuine case for asylum are dealt with speedily and fairly. They must be given permission to work and access education and social services while they await adjudication of their cases. Many asylum seekers are fantastic people with a good education who have come here having experienced very difficult circumstances. We should not make life more difficult for them.