Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I thank the proposers and seconders of this Bill for bringing it forward. I know there is a lot of work involved in preparing any Bill and explanatory memorandum, and I want to pay tribute to them for doing this. I know both the proposer and seconder are very passionate about this matter and they are using this forum to raise it and to bring forward a debate, which I welcome. However, the Government position has been set out quite clearly.

It is important in dealing with this issue that we look at the changes that have occurred since we came into government. I pay tribute to the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, who brought in a number of important changes. These include the introduction of new statutory arrangements governing the processing of subsidiary protection applications in the State, the decision to publish the protection Bill in January 2015, which will be published in January 2015, and the commitment which was given in the Government priorities 2014-16 to establish an independent working group, which has now been established. It is important also to see the seriousness of the Government in regard to the composition of the working group, which includes the following members: Judge Bryan McMahon, who has been appointed chairperson; Sue Conlan from the Irish Refugee Council; Eugene Quinn from the Jesuit Refugee Service; Fiona Finn, the chief executive officer of NASC; Greg Straton of SPIRASI; and Tanya Ward, the chief executive officer of the Children's Rights Alliance. These are just some of the people on this very experienced working group, all of whom have a huge contribution to make to ensure we get the changes that are required. I thank the Minister for bringing forward the changes and for establishing the working group.

The changes made in November 2013 in regard to dealing with applications for subsidiary protection are also important.

Therefore, it is not a case of the Government standing idly by and doing nothing about bringing about change. Changes have been made, but it is important we continue to make changes where necessary. For that reason, it is a little early to bring forward a Bill on this issue. We should consider waiting for the group -----