I think everyone recognises that we need people coming into this country through the visa system. We need doctors, nurses, people in hospitality and all different types of workers. They are welcome in this country. However, from what we have read last night, we need to have a conversation about illegal immigration. Most politicians are afraid at the moment, as are ordinary people. When you go around the country and talk to people, be it an elderly person or a couple here and there, one to one, they outline the problems they see but they all ask what they can say because they will be called a racist if they open their mouths. Last night, or this morning, what we read in the newspaper is horrendous. I will not go into that in detail. The one question I ask is this. If somebody, regardless of who that person is, is six years in the country, a deportation order was issued six months ago and the State is still paying for their accommodation, there is something seriously wrong. Unfortunately, over the last year or 18 months, we have seen a huge upsurge in knife crime in this country and a huge upsurge in weapons being wielded that we have never seen in this country. We have seen some cultures treating women as second-class citizens, which is not acceptable.

Sentiment score: -0.25

Here we go.

Sentiment score: 0.00

In the whole immigration process, the Government said it would process an applicant within six months. That has not happened. It is going on for four, five and six years. When will that be resolved? Our system is broken at the moment. The Government has admitted that we have an influx of youngsters and accommodation is very scarce. In Poland, Donald Tusk has decided, because the country has had an influx and could not cope with it, to get a suspension, with the blessing of Europe, under the migration pact. With the pressure on our system at the moment, will the Taoiseach consider that? Will he consider having a full debate in the House without people being put into corners, whether they are right-wing, left-wing or whatever? That needs to happen. The fear of talking about this has to be done away with. We, as representatives of people right around the country, have to say what we are hearing on the ground. Will the Taoiseach do the things I ask?

Sentiment score: -0.04

I have had a few conversations with the Minister for justice and I acknowledge that he is trying to make changes. The reality, however, is that it is neither good for the person looking for asylum or good for the State if something is dragging on for six years. Those are the facts of the matter. Two years ago, I chased up on the question of how somebody is identified and we were told by the Garda at the time that the process was fool-proof. It has since been proved not to be fool-proof. We need to make sure, in relation to identification, that we know who is coming into the country. I welcome what the Taoiseach has said. We need a debate here. We need to tighten up and bring in new legislation in order that this does not drag on for four, five or six years. Accommodation-wise, we will not be able to sort it and, on top of that, as a country, we will not be able to afford the cost of it.

Sentiment score: 0.11