Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Senator Norris's Bill. It is a genuine attempt to put this issue back on the agenda. The House can be proud of the role it plays in terms of highlighting this issue. I commend my two colleagues, Senator Ó Clochartaigh and Senator van Turnhout. They were involved in what was initially the Seanad all-party group on direct provision, which is now the Oireachtas all-party group on direct provision. Unfortunately, the Government is not in a position to support Senator Norris's Bill. This is not because it does not agree with the sentiments expressed by Senator Norris but because of numerous different concerns and issues. I do not intend to go into them because I am sure the Minister of State will do so in his address.
I believe Senator Norris is making an honest effort to deal with a situation which is appalling and unacceptable. We have spoken ad nauseamin the House about direct provision and the conditions that people are expected to live in. Some have been living in direct provision for up to a decade. Some children in certain families will be born there and will still in direct provision at nine years of age. There are many examples of that and of families sharing only one room, of parents who cannot watch television because their children are in bed and of children who do not have the freedoms of normal children to play or grow up in a normalised environment. It is an archaic system, brought in to deal with a crisis at short notice and it is clearly not working. It is inhumane, seen as such by international bodies and it is something we need to deal with as a government. I welcome the clear commitments from the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, in this area as well as his energy. When he came to the House he spoke on this issue with passion, clear commitment and intent. I believe we should facilitate him with the space he needs to bring forward an acceptable resolution to this problem.
I also welcome the review group and the steering group to which Senator van Turnhout referred. People such as Sue Conlan on the group will bring empathy, experience, understanding and a deep familiarity with the problems and outrageous challenges with which people within the direct provision community have been living on a daily basis for many years, unfortunately. I understand the Irish Refugee Council has certain concerns about the Bill.