Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after 'That Seanad Éireann' and substitute the following:"recognising that –
-the current system of Direct Provision has existed for 14 years;
-that the Minister and the Minister of State in the Department of Justice and Equality having visited several centres both agree on the need to review the current system; and
-that a key concern identified by those working in the sector is the length of time people spend in the system with over half of the residents being in the system for over four years;
welcomes the commitments in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014 - 2016 to:
-establish an independent Working Group to report to Government on improvements with the protection process, including Direct Provision and supports for asylum seekers; and
-to reduce the length of time the applicant spends in the system through the establishment of a single applications procedure, to be introduced by way of a Protection Bill as a matter of priority.".

I am quite happy to put on record that it is with a heavy heart that I am in a position where I have to propose a motion counter to that put down by my colleagues, all of which I agree with. All of the sentiments expressed by the two previous speakers are accurate and are a true reflection of what goes on in direct provision. I visited the centres with my colleague and friend, Senator Ó Clochartaigh, and others. I visited a number of centres and I was shocked and appalled at the inhumanity with which the State is treating citizens of the world.

It is simply disgraceful. I welcome the people in the Gallery and while I do not know them, I suspect some at least of them are residents of direct provision centres and they are most welcome. I wish to apologise on my own behalf as a Member of the Oireachtas for the manner in which they have been treated. It is totally unacceptable. Incidentally, before I continue, I wish to pay particular tribute to Carl O'Brien of The Irish Timesand Brian O'Connell of the "Today with Sean O'Rourke" programme for their work over the summer in highlighting this shame on our nation.