Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ireland, unlike other EU countries, opted out of the two EU directives which would grant asylum seekers the right to work and study, so people are left idle and without the opportunity to make a contribution to the society in which they live. When their children finish school they are unable to go on to third level education, as we have seen in a number of high profile cases where children have sought protection after completing their leaving certificate. It is so unfair and discriminatory against a child who is unable to choose their parents or where they were born. The entire system is massively unfair.

Fianna Fáil shares many of the concerns about the direct provision policy. The most interesting one, which I believe we could resolve, is the excessively long waiting times for asylum and protection applications to be processed. The system has an interview process under section 13 and an appeals stage in the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. If that does not work out for the protection applicant, they have a second bite at the cherry with the subsidiary protection interview. If that does not work, they can go to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal again to appeal the subsidiary protection interview decision. In the midst of all this, there are opportunities to go to the High Court to seek a judicial review of any decisions made. Figures are being bandied about for the process, such as it being four years. The Minister said there are fewer people in the system for four years. I do not know where people are getting their figures. The Reception and Integration Agency said last year that 46% of residents were in the direct provision system for more than three years. I do not know where the Minister is getting his figures but perhaps he would clarify that and how the figures are validated.

Fianna Fáil is reluctantly supporting the Government's amendment, as my colleague outlined, and we will monitor how the Government is fulfilling its obligations under the McMahon report and the International Protection Act. I commend Senator Norris but, unfortunately, we will not be voting for his Bill. Hopefully, it will be rectified in the not too distant future.