Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the amendment. As the Minister is well aware, I and many other Senators have been lobbying on the issue of direct provision for some time. We have aired serious concerns about how the direct provision model is working and what could potentially be taking place in direct provision centres. The anomaly with these centres is that they are part of a private service operated on behalf of the State by private limited companies under contract from the State. While I welcome the amendment, I seek clarification on the issue of subcontracting. Many of the companies involved in the operation of direct provision centres may hire in or subcontract tasks such as catering, cleaning, security and so forth. Does the amendment cover people who may be employed under such arrangements? It is essential that such persons are covered because all those who come into contact with children in accommodation centres should be vetted. In addition, staff from various support agencies, for example, teachers taking classes on behalf of a vocational education committee, occasionally work in direct provision centres. Will they also be covered by the provision?

I very much appreciate the amendment proposed by the Minister. Does he consider that his amendment addresses the issues provided for in amendments Nos. 11 and 12? Is he willing, in the spirit of his amendment No. 9, to accept amendments Nos. 11 and 12 to provide certainty that children who are resident in direct provision accommodation centres will be protected and professionals who work in such centres in any capacity will be vetted before being permitted access to them?