Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

However, in Deputy Ó Riordáin, we have a Minister who has called it as it is. His is a fresh face and a welcome, honest face in respect of signing up to not defending the indefensible, because he is not doing so. Consequently, I am quite happy to support a counter-motion in the knowledge that there is in place a Minister of State who I believe will act in this regard. He has made it a clear platform of reform on which he intends to see action in the next 18 months. This House owes him support by getting behind him in what will not be an easy endeavour. However, it is an endeavour he will fulfil and achieve. I simply have a feeling that given the events of the summer, the publicity and the light that has been shone into this part of our society, coupled with the appointment of a new Minister of State, matters are coming together and change will take place.

I personally believe the direct provision centres should be closed. When I visited one such centre in Galway, officials from the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, were present and to state they were defensive in the face of my questioning would be an understatement. I felt quite intimidated by the level of defensiveness displayed on that occasion. However, I will leave that where it is. I get annoyed when I see that this society is making the same mistakes in 2014 that it has made over the years. There have been investigations into what has happened in various institutions. There have been commissions and inquiries and Members' former colleague, Martin McAleese, carried out a comprehensive inquiry recently. However, in my heart and soul, I know that in 20, 30 or 40 years' time, people will be in this Chamber discussing commissions of investigation and public inquiries into the way in which people have been treated in such centres. It absolutely will happen when these children grow up and start to tell their stories, having become citizens of this country as I know they will. In 20 or 30 years' time, when the young people and the older people get freedom and citizenship and start to tell the stories of how they were treated and what happened on a daily or hourly basis in the centres, just as people in institutions during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s have done with such eloquence lately, there will be a national outcry that will result in a public inquiry. Moreover, the Taoiseach of the day, whoever he or she may be, will be making a public apology in Dáil Éireann on behalf of the people of Ireland. In my heart and soul, I have absolutely no doubt but that this will happen.

Consequently, as legislators, Members have a responsibility to stop the rot and to deal with it. We have done enough talking as this has gone on for 14 years. The present Government has been in government for three and a half years and at most has another 18 months remaining to it. Let us do the right thing and it always is proper to do the right thing. All one needs is the political will, which I believe exists, and I look forward to this issue being dealt with. There are issues such as not being able to work and that is a no-brainer. Some residents in direct provision centres are extremely talented people and with their hands, brains, creativity and imagination would make an enormously positive contribution to this society, were they facilitated, encouraged and fostered. It is shocking to think that children who attend school, sit the leaving certificate examinations and can get maximum grades and points are then not encouraged or supported to go on to university.

That is reprehensible and inhumane. When somebody reaches that level in academia but is not allowed to go on to university like those with whom he or she was in school, it is like cutting a flower before it has grown. What normal society does that? A society which calls itself an independent and respectful one does not do that.