Today, the faculty of paediatrics of the Royal College of Physicians called on the Government to abolish the system of direct provision for asylum seekers because the welfare of children is at stake. The author of the report issued today, Dr. Niamh O'Brien, stated the system is unethical, stigmatising and needs to end. Children in direct provision present with increased mental health issues and over-present to emergency departments with burns. These children are referred more frequently to Tusla than children in other settings.

Currently, there are more than 1,800 children in direct provision. The average waiting time in these centres is 14.3 months. While the waiting time has reduced, 14.3 months is still a lifetime for a child. The report's many recommendations include providing increased allowances for school and clothing expenses. I call on the Minister to consider establishing a specialised ring-fenced fund to enable these children to access psychological support. The mental trauma they are experiencing now will be carried forward into their adult lives. I am not sure if such a ring-fenced fund would be provided by the Department of Health or Department of Justice and Equality. Perhaps we could have a debate on this matter in the new year to protect these children and their mental stability and give them easy access to the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. I have often said in the House that general practitioners should have 24-hour emergency access to allow them to pick up the phone to prevent a vulnerable suicidal teenager or adult from going to an accident and emergency department. While the recommendations of increased allowances for clothing and school expenses are welcome, a specialised ring-fenced fund to provide psychological support for these children would be an excellent idea.

I thank Senator Gavan for eloquently putting the case for the Irish in Britain. We in this country do not fully appreciate the extent of the Irish diaspora, especially in major UK cities such as Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, London and Birmingham. I know from my British-Irish links that many of these men and women are involved in the Labour Party and Scottish National Party, and some are involved in the Conservative Party. I hope that whatever happens, the Irish caucus in Westminster, as it is known, will be strong. It is something that we have underestimated. There is huge Irish goodwill in Westminster and we have to continue to work with this, regardless of which party is in government. Anecdotally, many members of the Irish diaspora have been Labour Party supporters over the years.

Just as many of the Irish diaspora in the United States have moved from the Democrats to the Republicans, some of the Irish diaspora in the UK have moved from the UK Labour Party to the Conservatives. It is a cross-party issue now.

I was disappointed to hear the recent revelations about the finances of the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, which is €55 million in debt. It is disappointing that representatives of the FAI will not attend today's meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport, which will begin at 1.30 p.m. Many questions need to be answered. It is worrying to hear that FAI staff members, who have suffered a lot, have received threatening letters. This must stop. I ask the relevant authorities, including the Garda, to ensure it does not happen again. People are angry with the FAI and with particular people in the FAI. The staff of the FAI have done nothing wrong. Many of them have worked extremely hard.

Hear, hear.

The threats I have mentioned must stop immediately.