Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 17 May 2022

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth

Ukrainian Crisis: Discussion

Mr. Liam O'Dwyer:

What has been done here has been superb at this stage in the sense that people have come in. As for the way in which it has been structured, it took a little time at the airports and the ports, which is fine, and it has become very well co-ordinated. The setting up of the hubs, the use of emergency accommodation in the form of hotels, etc., has all gone very well. The lesson learned is that it can be done if one is organised. We need to learn lessons for the future in that regard. At the same time, hotels will be used shortly for other purposes, and refugees are being moved from one place to the next. All of that is difficult, and lessons from it need to be learned quickly because refugees need to be communicated with. The biggest issue for them is what is called progression. They have children, some have jobs and they want to know where they will be, which is understandable. When they are moved like that, it is an issue - there is no doubt about it - and that issue will have to be dealt with.