Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I thank Senator Norris for introducing the Bill. This issue is close to my heart. I am a solicitor and an immigration practitioner. Last year, in Dublin City Council, I proposed a motion, which received cross-party support, calling on the chief executive to ask the Minister to put an end to long-term direct provision for asylum seekers and to review the consequences for children living in direct provision centres. Furthermore, it called on the Minister to bring an end to the operation of direct provision centres across the country and to grant asylum seekers the right to study and the right to work in line with the rest of the EU.