Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also recognise that the depression rate among people within the asylum system is 90%. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, in its annual report, names it as an issue. The report includes a quote from somebody living in a centre. The person referred to it as "the dehumanising experience which eats away at my dignity".

I would like to focus my main remarks on not only encouraging Members to support the Bill moving to Committee Stage, where we can improve, temper and enhance it, but also to strongly oppose the Government's amendment. It is unusual for a Government amendment to be brought forward on Second Stage and it is something we should note with concern. It would be interesting if it would address the reason the very particular and usual circumstances in which this decision be taken. I note that we have heard of times of uncertainty. We are at times of extreme uncertainty. What we need now is certainty in our asylum system.