Mattie McGrath on asylum seeker treatment and reception centres
Mattie McGrath spoke about the treatment of asylum seekers and conditions in reception centres, expressing concern and criticism. He said the white paper was aspirational but that little has changed, and he called for proper oversight, dignity and respect for people in the system.
Reception centre experiences
He noted one reception centre in Carrickhamshire has improved and integrated well with local people, but said that overall the state's treatment of asylum seekers has been ham‑fisted and badly organised and that history may judge the nation harshly for it.
White paper and official response
He described the white paper as aspirational that gave hope, but argued that very little has happened since. He clarified that his remarks were not a personal criticism of the minister while emphasising the need for action.
Conditions and private providers
He criticised the role of private entrepreneurs in running accommodation, saying some operators were good but others were "desperate, awful" and that millions have been paid to private individuals. He described shocking conditions - large rooms subdivided, food handed in plastic bags, and reliance on vending machines - and questioned who is overseeing these arrangements.
Humanitarian context and call for dignity
He recalled graphic images of boats sinking and people fleeing war, and said many arrive traumatised after long journeys. He argued for limits tied to proper care, and urged that asylum seekers be treated with dignity and respect as a matter of national self‑respect.
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Speaker, Seheachta, Matty McGrath I'm glad to speak on this sensitive and important topic here this evening and you know while this is an issue that's been dug on us and reception centres for a long number of years, there's one in Carrickhamshire who in fairness which has changed and adapted and has become very very very good and the people have integrated it well but in general I don't think in times to come history won't be kind to us as a as a nation for the way that we have treated asylum seekers in this country and that goes without saying and when we look at the legacies of the past and we talk about the migrant laundries and other issues like that this is an issue that has been ham-fisted and has been badly organised. Now the white paper that was produced gave hope to people that we would make changes and it was very, it was very aspirational but nothing seems to have happened or very little seems to have happened. That's not a personal criticism of you Minister but as I said when we see the appalling situations that people are trying to flee from war and devastation and especially we saw graphic images of the ground boats and boats sinking of the huge loss of life and families and you know you know we saw people who walk for days and weeks and then save whatever pound you get to get them to pay, one scoop was people that put them onto those boats that weren't fit for purpose, that's traumatic enough and then to come here and not be treated with a moniker of dignity and respect and I've been criticised in the past for saying that we should you know have limits but we should, and I say that from the context of we cut our court according to measure and we look after people properly or some moniker of respect and look after them, as I said we haven't done that and they've been private entrepreneurs got involved in, some very good but some desperate, awful and millions have been poured into different private individuals their coffers to do and not very far from where we stand here now either, I know where they are in a town, not too far on the seaside from here and be treated appallingly, appallingly. Being handed big rooms divided into a tree and being handed in a plastic bag, curry and chips at night time and the vending machines they all have overnight, it is shocking. I wonder who's overseeing this and who's looking after them making sure that these people are treated properly, this is no way to treat our businesses who have come here, we've travelled the world and have been with expectation of a moniker of support, so there's a lot of work to be done and a lot of work to be done and a lot of work to be done. And to ensure that these people are treated with dignity and respect and they must be, if we're going to have any, as I said, self-respect and respect for those people as well. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You are very present attended Buddha and we'll see you in a minute. Thank you, Mr Donovan. Thank you. Dr Bob , Ms. refine Sie Br unto me nie Spread it from a quick one hand. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for Dr Bob , Mr. Scalго, and Max Warburg, for me on the next eightret .. Thank you and Dr MacI leanan. Sir Jessicaцен GileTON這麼 involved Dr. Odom, & Ma hero, I respect you to look at this child and that's where
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