Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome my colleagues back and offer my best wishes to Senator Jimmy Harte and wish him well for his recovery. He is a man who loved soccer and tried to engage us in that sport.

Over the summer, particularly in recent weeks, I have been reflecting on the relevance of this Seanad. What is its relevance if it does not act in people's hour of need? Just before the Seanad commenced its summer recess, I sought a debate on the 18 homeless pregnant girls, but that debate was refused. I looked for a debate and a recall of the Seanad on the Syrian crisis, but it was refused. I also raised the issue of the Aran Islands air service, not to mention the issue raised by Senator Quinn, namely no legislative plans for Seanad reform. None of these issues have been resolved. The people spoke out on Seanad reform, but all of these issues remain unresolved.

We should not turn a blind eye to the fact that across Europe the refugee crisis is stoking passions. We in this Chamber should be aware that we are likely to face a huge increase in anti-refugee sentiment when in our country we have more than 2,000 people in emergency accommodation, homeless people on the streets and half of those homeless being children. This morning we heard a Capuchin monk say he is feeding 800 people daily. What is the Government going to do for the Irish people who are forced to rely on Christian charity just to eat?

I have heard the Taoiseach say he wants to see recovery behind every door. So do I, but what I find behind many doors is unresolved debt and missing people due to emigration and, sadly, suicide in some cases. The fact our people have been left in this situation does not bode well for the refugees we should rightfully accept into our country. The Government cannot continue to treat our homeless people, those in direct provision for up to ten years and the refugees who come here as numbers on a page. Throwing hundreds of refugees into Monasterevin is not a way forward.