David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Politics is very confusing and contradictory. We have Bugs Bunny in the White House, the Famous Five in 10 Downing Street and Inspector Clouseau in the Élysée Palace. I was quite surprised to hear the leader of Sinn Féin on the wireless this morning complaining about the lack of action on the system of direct provision. I raise this matter in the context of the fact that in the last Parliament, approximately 18 months or two years ago, I introduced a comprehensive Bill that would have dealt exhaustively with it. The Minister of State with responsibility for the issue at the time was my colleague, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. He is passionately committed to dealing with it and it really looked as if he would move forward on it. He said something would happen within a month or two, but 18 months later, nothing at all has happened.