Seanad debates

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Direct Provision System: Motion

 

6:50 pm

Photo of Aodhán Ó RíordáinAodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí uilig as ucht an fáilte a chur said romham um thráthnóna. I welcome those in the Visitors' Gallery who have come from Mosney and Portlaoise. I am sure I recognise at least one person from Hatch Hall and representatives of SPIRASI.
I have been asked by my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, to respond to this motion by supporting the Government amendment, which states:

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 welcome this opportunity to respond to the points raised in this Private Member's motion and to speak more generally about the subject in order to assist Members gain a fuller understanding of the issues involved.
It is no secret that I personally have many difficulties with the direct provision system as it currently operates. I have described the system as inhumane and I do not resile from that description.

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