Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Departments will continue on their websites to invite expressions of interest in vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis. This process has increased the pool of available talent. A number of Departments have already made progress in this area. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, for example, has made a number of appointments to transport boards that came in via the public expressions of interest. However, all board appointees to date are entirely qualified to serve on their boards and to make a valuable contribution to the oversight of State organisations.
Senator Daly also raised a specific issue regarding the Irish Deaf Society. I was contacted today by somebody from the society about this issue and the closure of the advocacy service of the Irish Deaf Society, Deaforward. I am very concerned to hear about it and I have asked for more information on it.
The Senator also raised the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, Ballymurphy and so forth, but perhaps he would clarify tomorrow what debate he seeks and what Minister to invite on those issues. Senator Coghlan replied about the State boards, as I said.
We all join with Senator Mac Conghail in expressing condolences to the family of Dermot Healy and in paying tribute to his immense contribution to our poetic and cultural life. A beautiful poem by Dermot Healy is published in The Irish Timestoday to mark his passing. Senator Mac Conghail also asked for a debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality on direct provision. I will be happy to request that.

That issue was the subject of a number of recent debates in the House. I was present at the Integration Centre yesterday for the launch of the ESRI's annual monitoring report on integration in Ireland, at which the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, made a very important speech about moving to a single unified system of application for leave to remain in Ireland. The purpose of such a system would be to streamline the current process, which has really been allowed to drift. That is the difficulty. Direct provision was initially introduced as a temporary, short-term measure to ensure that people involved in the asylum-seeking process would have shelter, food, etc. It is clear, however, that people are spending far too long in the direct provision system. Senator Mac Conghail referred to the terrible story of a child who has spent all seven years of her life to date within the system. Clearly, that is wrong. It is a dehumanising process, and many Senators have commented on this matter in the House previously. I hope that during the remainder of this Government's term of office there will be a distinct effort to tackle this problem. Senators should join together on a cross-party basis to encourage the Minister in the approach she is adopting, which is designed to ensure that action is taken to reduce the amount of time people - particularly families with children - are obliged to spend in direct provision. Other matters arise in this regard in the context of the Ombudsman for Children. On previous occasions, for example, I referred to the lack of access to child benefit for children in direct provision. The Government will be obliged to tackle a number of different aspects of this issue.

Senator Barrett referred to a motion that is being taken without debate. If they read the Order Paper, colleagues will see that both motions being taken without debate involve the referral of matters to the relevant joint Oireachtas committees for debate. The Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality will debate the motion relating to Eurodac tomorrow. Senator Barrett also congratulated the new President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and called for warm relations between Luxembourg and Ireland. He also called for warm relations between the PSNI and the Garda.

Senator Gilroy provided a vigorous response to Senator Daly on the spirit of true republicanism and I echo his words. Senator Gilroy also sought a debate on electroconvulsive therapy and section 59 of the Mental Health Act 2001. That is a matter on which the House has sought to take action in the past. We should engage in a debate on mental health in September and try to move matters forward. We came close to amending section 59 of the Act previously but, unfortunately, moves in that regard did not come to fruition.

Senator Leyden referred to the Irish nomination to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, CPT. I thank the Senator for his suggestion that I put my name forward. I must inform him that I have no intention of applying for the post.