Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 4 April 2019

Public Accounts Committee

2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality

9:00 am

Photo of Marc MacSharryMarc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will indicate for a second round if I can. I do not have many questions specific to the Vote we are considering this morning so I will be going a little bit off the reservation after my initial questions. Like Deputy Connolly, I congratulate the Department on a clear audit opinion and offer continued good wishes to the new team at its helm. I said in private session that I did not have a question relevant to the immigration side but I do have one. I am totally in favour of us playing our global part in terms of the acceptance and welcome of refugees. They are very welcome. In terms of their placement, I am conscious that there has been procurement of locations in Moville, County Donegal and in Roosky, County Roscommon, to prepare for this. It seems logical that larger towns and cities might be better placed to seamlessly integrate and welcome different nationalities. Is demographic analysis done to inform decisions to place a large number of refugees in a small location like Roosky or a relatively small location like Moville, as opposed to the likes of Letterkenny, Roscommon, Sligo, Athlone or Dublin? Again I emphasise that they are very welcome.