Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)

I acknowledge our guests in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. About six years ago, I spent a week in Mr. Williams's district, believe it or not. I had a very enjoyable and pleasant time and the people there were very welcoming and accommodating. He and his family are most welcome here today.

I thank the Minister very much for coming into the Chamber. As my good colleague beside me said, the Fine Gael group is supporting these motions. I will contribute in general terms about immigration. It is important that these issues be discussed in the Houses of the Oireachtas and that conversations happening among the public be reflected in this Chamber and down the hall. In a general sense, I am supportive of immigration and recognise the benefits of it. I think immediately of our hospitals, healthcare system, educational institutions and hospitality sector, and the many people who have come here through the work permit programme or sought asylum, been accepted and been granted asylum and leave to remain in this country and the contribution they have all made. I recognise also the contribution of the new Irish, those individuals who have applied through our mechanisms to become Irish citizens and have been granted citizenship and the contribution they have gone on to make to the country.

The other side of the coin is that it is important we have a migration system that allows for firmness and fairness, as was mentioned. It should also be fast. It is so important that measures like these will allow for faster processing of applications and the designation of a country as a "safe country", which will allow officials in the immigration system to process those applications more swiftly. That is very important. I recognise the work the Minister has done and the work done by his predecessor, my party colleague the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee, in the area of deportations. As a country, it is important that there be a mechanism that grants the State the ability to deport people who have applied for asylum and been refused and have then gone through the appeals process and, ultimately, had that application refused, and have then been asked to leave the country but have not done so. It is so important that the work done in this area proceed and progress, including in regard to the call for greater resources to ensure our migration system complies with the three principles of being fair, fast and firm.

I acknowledge the right of many people who have concerns about the immigration system in the country. It is a conversation being had in bars, in the street, at GAA matches, in the workforce and in so many communities across the country. We should move from the emergency system we have seen in recent years, where individuals with the ability to make private accommodation available have received massive sums from the State. We should move away from that model and towards one that is State-owned, whereby the State is resourcing the accommodation. I recognise the work done in securing some of these facilities across the country and the work that is continuing to be done to ensure there is resourcing and accommodation available for individuals who come to the country to seek assistance in the most difficult situations. Once those applications have been processed and have gone through the system, it is important that firm action be taken. If it is the case that somebody receives permission to remain in the country, they should be swiftly issued with a PPS number and the ability to apply for and take up employment and to make a contribution to the economy. I recognise the work done in this area to date. As my colleague outlined, the Fine Gael group supports the Minister's proposals and will be voting accordingly.