Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his detailed speech. Fianna Fáil will be supporting the opting in to the directive. I want to use this opportunity to reiterate my real concern about the direct provision system and the lack of implementation in full of the McMahon recommendations. The soft recommendations have been implemented, but the meatier ones have not. As the Minister outlined, there is an opt-in process which takes approximately four months to complete. In the meantime, he will rely on the Employment Permits Act 2003. This will be restrictive and not at all suitable for asylum seekers. Virtually no one will qualify under the Act and the fees are astronomical, considering the weekly allowance afforded to asylum seekers.

As the Minister outlined, the legislative scheme which will be put in place once we have formally opted in to the directive will be more generous. It would want to be substantially more generous than what is in place and Oireachtas Members will keep a close eye on it. If it turns out to be a farce, it will not be long before we start highlighting it to the Minister. We need to ensure asylum seekers are afforded adequate opportunities to work, as well as the dignity and support needed to get their lives back on track. Essentially, they have fled wartorn countries and come here to look for a new life. If we are not affording them proper opportunities, they might as well have not sought asylum here. The current system is akin to internment. If they are not afforded the dignity of work, education and training to access the labour market, it can be crippling.