Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister and his officials. I thank him for his work since he took office. He has got a grip on this. It is a difficult area and he is doing a very good job. I believe that has been acknowledged by all.

I have a declaration to make. My wife received an email from Bed and Breakfast Ireland on behalf of the Department, which was urgently looking for accommodation for Ukrainians following the outbreak of the war. Bed and Breakfast Ireland hosted a national webinar at the time. My wife currently has a contract for five rooms and has five Ukrainians staying. When she was contacted first, she offered seven rooms. She was asked for ten, which I believe was the minimum number required at the time. When the Department was overwhelmed with the sheer volume coming into the country, we were getting calls every day. We have a small operation. I was interviewed by Radio Kerry at the time and subsequently contacted by many accommodation providers because, to be honest about it, they were wary in the early days. Some Ukrainians went back home and more went to Canada, availing of the likes of APR schemes. Others moved to other parts of the country. Beds have not been refilled for the obvious reason that the numbers have dropped. I am aware that the Department has closed many smaller operations because some were non-compliant, etc.

On the other side of it, the international protection was good for rural schools. I was aware of and was contacted by many smaller rural schools in south Kerry that were short of one or two pupils. Ukrainian children made up the shortfall and the schools secured their extra teacher. That has changed again because the children have been moved on to other places, and some have gone back home or to Canada, etc. International protection has also been good for areas affected by rural depopulation. It has also been good for GAA clubs. I can name a number of GAA clubs in Kerry with Ukrainians playing for them. They are bloody well glad to have them. An example is Valentia Island, where the great Mick O’Connell hails from. I was very happy to meet him the other morning. He is in good health all the time. My regards to him and his son, Diarmuid, who was with him. Many businesses were delighted to be able to hire Ukrainians because they simply could not get staff. I am talking about south Kerry, the area I know best. The businesses were very disappointed when the Ukrainians moved on, some to other countries. I spoke to hoteliers who had trained in Ukrainians and had them working for them for a couple of years. Next thing they were gone. I should say before I make my very last point that I am aware of Irish people in relationships with Ukrainians and who are engaged to get married to Ukrainians. That is good as well.

Please give consideration to the children.

They have already made a big move from their homes. Many have no homes. I know many of their stories that I do not have to repeat here today. They are very tragic stories. Many have no families left. This idea of moving them once, twice or three times is not fair. We need to give these children fair consideration.