Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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This is very important. The Minister repeats statements such as this. When we are in our constituencies, people tell us they have heard that a house is being used or a hotel has been converted to house those seeking international protection. We tell them we do not know.

When the officials and Ministers make this statement, it appears to people that their elected representatives are lying to them. This is really important and goes to the heart of the breakdown in trust among communities for which, I would argue, the Government is wholly responsible. There is a breakdown of goodwill. The last time officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth appeared before the committee, we were all able to convey the absolute goodwill of our constituents towards supporting particularly those fleeing war and persecution. That goodwill has been entirely undermined and somebody needs to take responsibility for it because statements like this are purposely designed to try to shift the blame to others apart from the people who are responsible for it who are officials at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.