Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the White Paper. In 2014, Mr. Justice Bryan McMahon said that anyone forced to live in a system that denied them the right to work or study and determined almost every aspect of their life without any indication as to when their circumstances might change would go mad. Some of them said to him that they would prefer to go to jail because they would have a definite sentence and would know when they were getting out.

Many of us have been championing this cause for a long time. One of the first motions I put my name to in Dublin City Council in 2014 was to end direct provision. The campaign to end it has been going on for a long time. Today is a cause for celebration. We hope the Government implements this report because we have seen many reports. There seems to be huge political will behind it. I hope we will go ahead with this.

I am aware and welcome that the Taoiseach said he would contact our former President, Ms Mary Robinson, about her trip to Dubai and proof of life mission in respect of Princess Latifa. Serious human rights implications have been highlighted in the media in the last few weeks.I ask the Leader to get an update on how the conversation between the Taoiseach and Ms Mary Robinson went. It was very peculiar that when Ms Robinson came back from the mission, she stated that this young girl had difficulties with her mental health, without having any medical knowledge or without having spoken to a doctor. It is something we need to highlight.

We are all very proud of Ms Robinson. When I was a child, I really looked up to her. I was eight years old when she was elected President of Ireland. I felt a little bit let down but I hope we will get some clarification as to what exactly went on.