Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Jillian van Turnhout's amendment. Like most legislation when it is published, the Bill is not perfect. I concur with Senator Ivana Bacik when she says what is contained in it is a lot better than what has been ongoing for the past eight or ten years in the direct provision system. However, I am not happy with it and have tabled reams of amendments. I understand it has to pass through this House and all I am asking is that the Minister of State and his officials allow for certain improvements by way of amendments within the framework of the Bill, without destroying it and what it is trying to achieve. I am also not entirely happy that debate on the Bill is to be guillotined at 7 p.m. That is regrettable because when we returned after the summer recess in September, there wre five or six weeks in which we twiddled our thumbs because little legislation was brought through to us for consideration. There was the same situation last year and it is most regrettable that we are now sitting late hours and five days a week. I will not be a killjoy and say the Bill must be thrown out, as I accept that it can be improved on. In that regard, I hope the Minister of State will accept some of our amendments.

I am in a difficult situation because of my position as Leas-Chathaoirleach. There will be times today and tomorrow when I will have to be in the Chair and I must be impartial in as far as I can be. At the same time, I have proposed amendments and hope the Minister of State will consider them carefully. I am aware of Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh's position on the Bill, but I would not go that far. While I believe there are defects in the Bill, improvements can be made. Senator Ivana Bacik put it well when she said that if we were to set aside the Bill, a new Government would not be formed until next March or April and we would lose almost another year as a result.It is unfair to those who are in direct provision. I have said in this House before that children are growing up in direct provision. It is contravening our Constitution and the international rules. If we could make some improvement through additional legislation in six months' time, next year or the year after, it would polish up and improve on the present Bill. I want to state my position and hope the Minister of State will give a response that will soothe the points that Senator van Turnhout has very cogently made.