Seanad debates
Wednesday, 27 January 2016
Direct Provision: Motion
10:30 am
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source
That is the intent behind the reforms we are overseeing. The tragedy of direct provision, as with other aspects of public policy that have failed, is that a short-term measure becomes a long-term solution.
When given responsibility for this area, I did not just want to read reports and engage with NGOs, but wanted to see, smell and taste the centres myself. I have seen, smelt and tasted the desperation in those centres and know exactly what is happening in them. However, NGOs now tell me they see a change. They see the letters being sent to people who have been in direct provision for over five years. They know there is a sense of hope arising because of the report of the direct provision protection working group. Now they can see, because of the resources that have been put in by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the most recent budget, that more people are getting leave to remain and more people are moving out of the centres and building lives for themselves. Some 60 to 80 people a month are getting leave to remain and are moving out of the centres
There is a challenge in that regard, because we had approximately 450 cases of people with leave to remain who were still in direct provision because they could not find accommodation elsewhere. We had approximately 18 cases of people who remained in direct provision for a year after they had obtained leave to remain. The solutions are not simple. However, I agree with Senator van Turnhout that it is about nudging and edging our way out from a catastrophic policy disaster towards providing individuals, families and children with a sense of hope and expectation. It is much more than throwing slogans around. It is actually dealing with situations humanely and properly.
I contend and agree with everybody here that permission to work, the right to work, permission for individual payment, the right to education and the right to prepare food are necessary. The right to prepare food may sometimes be dismissed as a trivial issue, but it is not. It is central to parenthood and central to how a child understands connectivity within the family.
The working group report is the only game in town. It is the only document anybody is working on and is not sitting on a shelf but is live and being implemented. I would love to have the opportunity to come back after the general election to work with others in these Houses to ensure we implement that report, because in this commemoration year, children living in direct provision centres need a commemoration that speaks of something better and brighter for their lives. I assure Senators this is currently happening on an incremental basis.
No comments