This morning there was a joint operation to remove more than 100 tents that were pitched alongside the Grand Canal in Dublin. There were 168 people moved to alternative accommodation. We welcome this because everybody can agree it was not sustainable for those living in the tents or for the communities in the area. This cannot be allowed happen again. It is abundantly clear that the Government is limping from crisis to crisis. It is also clear that it has no coherent strategy or thought-out plan to deal with this situation. Last week, the Taoiseach said he would not allow makeshift shanty towns to develop in Dublin or any other cities or towns. Those are his words, not mine. Will the Tánaiste assure the Dáil that we will not be back here next week or next month facing a similar situation, with another 100 tents erected down by the canal or anywhere else across the city?

I agree that is not sustainable for tents to be on the canal or anywhere in the public realm. It is not good for migrants and asylum seekers or for residents of the general areas involved. It is not acceptable, and there is a plan to deal resolutely with tents wherever they are pitched. I also make the point that there is a wider plan to deal with the increase in people seeking asylum here. There has undoubtedly been a substantial increase in line with the rest of Europe, and in line with worsening conditions as a result of war and famine overseas. Applications are now being assessed in record time. The number of applicants from safe countries has fallen by 50%. There is a new system to respond quickly to any upsurge from one country. There is an increase of almost 100% in international protection staff since 2022.

Will we be back here next week?

I hope the Tánaiste had the opportunity last weekend to read Erica Tierney's article in The Irish Times. Ms Tierney wrote about her experience of being pregnant while diagnosed with breast cancer. She finished her treatment on 30 April 2020, and one week later was informed by the Department of Social Protection that her maternity leave had run out. Ms Tierney is the inspiration behind the Irish Cancer Society's Leave Our Leave campaign, which has been calling for amendments to the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004, to allow women going through a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy or postpartum to defer their maternity leave. This has cross-party support. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, said it was to have been brought in by the end of 2023. When will this legislation, which would be simple and short, be brought in? It would make a huge difference to the more than 60 women who every year are diagnosed with cancer while pregnant. If a father is diagnosed with cancer or falls ill, they can defer their paternity leave, but women who are pregnant cannot defer their maternity leave.

I pay tribute to Erica Tierney for her advocacy and her openness in discussing her personal situation. As the Deputy says, the Minister has committed to legislating on this front. My understanding is that the Department is working on that. I will revert back to the Minister and come back to the Deputy about timelines.

In response to a previous contribution, the Tánaiste said there is a plan to deal with tents that are popping up across the city. Will he tell us what that plan is? What we have seen is tents removed, fences put up and the problem moved to other streets. Less than six hours after tents were removed from the canal, they are now down in Ringsend and East Wall. This is clearly not a sustainable solution. We need to hear exactly how the Government is going to deal with this matter because fencing every single street in the city will neither work nor be practical.

That is my point. We need a firm and fair immigration policy and procedures. I outlined earlier that we are dealing-----

What is the plan to deal with the tents?

The phrase "open border" has been tossed about the place. We never had an open border in this country because there were always procedures to govern people coming into the country.

Answer the question.

What is the plan for people who are seeking asylum?

This is not acceptable.

The Tánaiste is not answering the question.

The Deputy is not allowing me to answer.

He is not answering the question. This is the second time he has been asked.

I have told Deputy Whitmore the plan has to both reduce and deal quickly with applications that come in from those seeking asylum. The second dimension has already been published by Government in terms of its accommodation strategy. The third is that we do not believe it acceptable that tents should be in the public realm. This has emerged in more recent times, and we will continue to focus on it.

Hide them away.

I hope the Government has a large supply of fences, because that is its response to this.

My other point is that many-----

I am sorry, but we are out of time.