International Protection Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-25
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Eileen Flynn (IND), Administrative Panel

We are not a crazy bunch that does not want protection for refugees. What we want is to have refugees, when they are here, treated with dignity and respect, not have somebody in a hotel or direct provision centre search another human being. Would the Minister let someone in the Department of justice search him every day when he comes in to do his job? No, he would not. It is not acceptable. Why does he think it is acceptable that people working in direct provision centres can search others? This is a nasty day for human rights and equality in this country if we are going to treat children who ran from fear like this. I have no words. I am going to sit down. This is absolutely scandalous legislation which the Government should be ashamed of. Some day, 30 years down the line, when Billy and Lacy are into politics, they will be looking for a State apology for the people we treated like this. Talk about a scandal.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-25/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:46+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-25