Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I join Senator Ardagh in condemning, in the strongest terms, the vandalism or attack on the First World War monument last night. Many years ago I was part of a delegation, organised by the late Paddy Harte, a man who served these Houses for many years. I travelled with mayors, including mayors from Donegal, and republicans, nationalists and unionists. We went to the battle sites of the First World War and the memorial points, including the Somme, Ypres and Messines. The monument site is a place where republicans, unionists and nationalists can, and must, unite to remember the tens of thousands of young men from this island who went to the region and were slaughtered in the most horrific circumstances. We can all agree on this. The memorial at the Island of Ireland Peace Park does not glorify the war; it remembers the men who died on both sides and, in particular, the poetry of individuals such as Francis Ledwidge. We need to make it clear on this island that this is not a debate about wearing poppies but about remembering nationalists and unionists who, 100 years ago and more, were slaughtered together. It is a matter on which one can unite the traditions on the island to try to move away from the violence in our own history and find points that unite us. The memorial site is a place at which we can unite. Last night's attack, therefore, was an attack on the Irish people collectively. It has to be condemned. Those who believe in the viewpoint demonstrated in the attack need to be challenged by republicans, unionists and nationalists.

I convey my concern to Senator Richmond and the Government on the direct provision centre developments in recent times. The system is built on the private sector making available hotels, old convents and family centres, such as Mosney, to be utilised for the service. What is happening, however, is that around Dublin such buildings are now becoming profitable and viable as commercial entities, and they will be closed one by one. I was the Chairman of an Oireachtas committee that examined the system and visited the centres. I know the system well. Centres have been pushed further and further from Dublin. The most recent development is in Moville on the Inishowen peninsula. It is not practical for the asylum seekers. The Irish Refugee Council has spoken out strongly about what is happening. This needs to be dealt with urgently.

There is a complete absence of consultation with local communities. There is a lack of additional resources. One cannot say to those in a place such as Moville, which has a population of 1,300, that in two weeks there will be 100 additional people and that the authorities have not talked to the general practitioners, schools and community groups in advance. It was stated that consultation or a public meeting is not helpful to the process. One cannot work on that basis. It is certainly not in the interest of the poor asylum seekers who have come here to try to build a better life and who are stuck in the system. It is certainly not in the interest of communities. One should remember that in all the experiences we have had so far, the communities will stand by and help the asylum seekers but they just want to be respected. They want to be afforded the basic courtesy of being told what is happening and being assisted. There needs to be an urgent review and it needs to be dealt with.