Last month, 17-year-old Vadym Davydenko, who was in State care, died after a serious attack in Donaghmede. It is now believed the suspect in the attack was not a juvenile but was over 18 at the time of the attack. This is what we mean when we talk about a chaotic migration system. This vulnerable young man was in State care. We have a responsibility to ensure international protection applicants, particularly children, are safeguarded. It should set off alarm bells that an adult was allegedly housed in an apartment with three children and that this was only discovered after the death of one of those children. This is indicative of a deep failure by the Government to properly vet people claiming asylum in the country.

It is also worrying that we continue to see Tusla place children in unregulated accommodation run by private for-profit companies that HIQA does not inspect and which employ, in some cases, untrained staff. Two days ago, Judge John Campbell said he was "incandescent with rage" that Tusla could not find a secure bed for a child at risk of death. A child who should be getting ready for Christmas is left in an unregulated placement because no special care beds are available until January. Out of 26 beds, only 15 are operational because there are issues recruiting and retaining staff.

How many more children need to go missing or have their lives put at risk before any concrete change happens? Our asylum system needs to be reformed immediately. We have to bring an end to children being housed in unregulated accommodation.