Mr. Paul Kernan:

I thank the Chair for the opportunity to make some comments. In response to Deputy Ward's observation on the benefit of face-to-face conversations, I must echo that as community workers in Donegal, we found that to be one of the most effective approaches we can make in what are a very difficult set of circumstances. Ms Hanlon referred to the layers we have to consider in terms of these issues, which I thought was very useful. One of the difficulties we have found with the arrival of Ukrainian refugees in the re-establishment of the response forum to look at supporting the arrival of the Ukrainian community was that symbols and signage were painted outside the accommodation facilities provided.

There was a great reluctance within the local authority and within other agencies to name, talk about and recognise that there was a problem and that behaviours were taking place in the local community that were effectively anti-refugee. There is a chilling effect. We even found that some months back when as a community organisation and a member of the response forum, we were saying we needed to speak up, give leadership and give direction. There was a proposal to make special meetings and have those conversations, which never took place. From April up until today, there has never been a discussion in the local authority. That reflects an aspect of the chilling effect that is going on. Certainly, one of the face-to-face conversation responses that Deputy Ward mentioned we had employed, requires huge time and effort. It requires resourcing and I think all of the witnesses today have made reference to the importance of resourcing. I echo Ms McDonald's comment about trusted and experienced community workers. There is, and there are, resources. We have received some assistance, as many colleague organisations have, but often they seem to be short-term, short or pilot project investments for less than a year. We are trying to establish and support the establishment of community-based networks, while actually having conversations with community organisation board of management, local sports clubs, men's sheds, retirement groups, and those sorts of organisations on the ground. We challenge and provide the information, the facts and the lived experience. My colleague, Mr. Farah, who is attending virtually as well today, is part of something we do with our volunteer colleagues from the asylum and refugee community. They are part of that engagement. It needs to be supported, recognised as important and resourced but there is also something about having encouraging conversations in those sorts of settings at a community level. It makes a difference.