Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)

Too often in this country, we are too afraid to speak out on these issues. It is only right and proper that in the people's representatives' Chamber in this House, we actually discuss and debate these issues on every occasion. Since having been elected as a Member of the Seanad, I have come in here and spoken on migration. It is only right and proper. I thank the Minister of State for his engagement in the portfolio to date. It remains my view that we have a need in this country for an immigration system that is fair, fast and firm. I recognise that so many people have come to the country legally, with permits, and taken up jobs and employment and are making a contribution to the country, be that the one in four nurses and midwives who the Minister of State highlighted were born outside the country or the almost one in four doctors who have taken up employment working for the health service delivering care across the country who were born outside the country. Ireland is not a racist country, but I do still believe fully that we need a system that is fair and has a clear and transparent set of rules. We need a rules-based system.It is only right and proper that those in an IPAS immigration centre who have taken up employment after being there for six months and are receiving money for that employment do actually pay a contribution towards their accommodation in that centre. I think that is fair. The Minister of State is making the right move in that area and I very much welcome it.

I recognise the fact that the system must be fast. We have to have timely processing of applications. We cannot have a system in which it takes up to two years for somebody to receive a decision on whether they have permission to remain in this country. There also has to be timely processing of enforcement. That is where the firmness has to come in. The country cannot be afraid to say, "No, you are not entitled to remain in this country, you do not have permission to be here and you must deport yourself." In situations where individuals choose not to take up voluntary deportation, the State must deport them. We should not be afraid to come out and say that. If it is a rules-based system with a rules process and ultimately the decision is taken that an individual cannot remain in this country, then they have to be deported.

I welcome the fact that there has been a 40% reduction in the number of applications for IPAS since the Minister of State took up his position. I welcome the fact that he is publishing a strategy soon. It is a very important conversation that we have to have in this Chamber. We need to move away from the emergency response. I encourage the Minister of State to move away from the for-profit model of contracting out private hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation across the country, and to take up the State-based model which centralises provision of accommodation to immigrants who have applied for temporary and permanent protection in centralised State-run facilities. That is something that should be implemented quickly.

To conclude, I acknowledge the fact that over the last number of months there have been attacks against migrants and immigrants purely motivated on racist grounds. They need to be called out and brought through the entire justice system.