Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I listened intently to my friend and colleague Senator Ó Domhnaill, and I find myself in unison with his analysis of the situation and his critique in terms of the European response and what is required. I respectfully suggest that the dynamic has changed radically in the past year or two. What we saw over the summer has dramatically changed the narrative, the environment and what should be the response. Two years ago we would not have envisaged this situation.

We have been accepting people into this country for many years. Currently, there are 4,000 people in the direct provision system, which can only be described as inhumane. Calls for change have been made since the start of this Oireachtas. With Senator Ó Clochartaigh and others, I have called for the abolition of the direct provision system. The Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has made a genuine attempt to deal with it. He set up a review and, to be fair, elements of the recommendations have been implemented. It was inhumane to allow a situation to continue whereby children in direct provision were doing their leaving certificate and getting As in their subjects, knowing that once they passed their leaving certificate, irrespective of the points they got, they would not be in a position to go to college. However, it was amazing to see the dramatic change in policy last August when a young lady from Limerick was offered a place at the Royal College of Surgeons. She engaged with media and spoke to the press. Her story touched people; there was a change in policy, and a recommendation made by that particular group was implemented. That was good politics. It was a good day for this country. It was the day we told people coming here that if they want to educate themselves and reach their potential, Ireland will be a partner in that and will equip them to do so.

Parallel to that, we saw the amazing work done by LE Eithne, LE Niamh and the personnel in our Naval Service. I had the great pleasure, as a member of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, to go on a tour of LE Eithne and visit the Naval Service in its headquarters in Haulbowline in Cork. I saluted the personnel for the professional manner in which they carried out their duties on behalf of the people of Ireland. As public representatives, all we can do is look on in admiration and pride at what they have done internationally. It was their first such mission abroad. They saved at least 1,000 lives, but probably more. The Minister for Defence, Deputy Simon Coveney, attended the justice committee yesterday and made it clear that the resources would be made available if the Italian Government required them. If it is a question of prioritising fisheries patrol or saving lives in the Mediterranean, the Minister made it clear that his priority was saving lives in the Mediterranean. The priority of all of us is saving lives in the Mediterranean.

Only 150 years ago, Ireland saw millions of our people travel on coffin ships to the United States seeking a better life and salvation from the Great Irish Famine. Millions of people died of starvation, and millions more lost their lives in transit. Those who did arrive helped build the America we know today. Some of the thousands of people who passed through Ellis Island, many as young as 15 years of age, went on to become captains of industry in the United States. Their descendants went on to lead America, with the poster boy being John F. Kennedy, but many more became leaders and built America.

We have just come through one of the worst economic recessions we will ever see in our lifetimes. Our country is reconstructing. Policies are being implemented to help us reconstruct. The capital plan was announced this week to great fanfare, but thousands of people will be required in the construction industry to put that capital plan into action and see the buildings built. We will require thousands of blocklayers, carpenters, electricians and engineers, because we do not have enough of those people. Even if we brought back all the emigrants who left in the past few years, we still would not be able to provide the human resources necessary to deliver our capital plan. The migrants may be seen as an economic necessity in Germany, but that is the case here as well. We have the potential, as the Taoiseach has often said, to be the best small country in the world in which to do business. We can also be the best small country in the world to welcome people. We can be the best small country in the world for people to visit. We can be the best small country in the world for controlled construction. These people who find themselves in an unfortunate situation, as our ancestors did 150 years ago, have a significant role to play in this country.

I spoke to members of the Restaurants Association of Ireland at their briefing across the road last week. They told me they needed thousands of chefs. I am sure many of the migrants coming here will be well able to cook if they are given the opportunity and will contribute to our tourism industry. Tourism in Ireland is in a pattern of steep growth, but staff, including chefs, cannot be got to fill the kitchens of our many hostelries, restaurants and hotels. That is another example of how migrants could play a strong and meaningful role in our society.

We cannot on the one hand praise ourselves and say we are doing a great job, as our Navy is doing, while on the other hand putting up barriers to prevent people from getting homes here. The Government has done a good deal in accepting more than 4,000 migrants, but we can and should do much more. Ireland has an opportunity to lead on this in a similar way to Germany.

I support these motions. I am delighted that there is unanimity in Seanad Éireann, as has always been the case on issues of such importance to our people and our society.The 24th Seanad is defined by the fact that we can come together and put party politics aside. It is not a political football but a political issue and, when it is a political issue that matters, we can unite.