Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Okay. We will note and publish No. R1784B.

No. R1787B, from Mr. Kevin McCarthy, Secretary General, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, dated 9 March 2023, provides information requested by the committee arising from the meeting on 16 February 2023. It is proposed to note and publish this correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. Deputy Murphy and I flagged this. The question concerns the number of beneficiaries of temporary protection per 1,000 population each country is taking in. I understand this refers to Ukrainians. It is right that we do that and it is good we are playing our part. As a small country, we have done a huge amount. It is great that we are able to provide sanctuary for people, 81% or 82% of whom are women and children who had to flee war-affected areas in Ukraine. There is an issue that needs examination, which I raised with Mr. Kevin McCarthy when he was before the committee. We need to be fair to the Mediterranean states because they have an influx from north Africa and other countries in the Middle East which we do not have on the same scale. It is clear there are a number of other central or northern European countries which have not been taking the same numbers.

France is a case in point. France has been taking roughly the same amount as ourselves, or very slightly more than us, but with a population in excess of 50 million, and with a bigger economy and a bigger country. None of what I say should be taken as an argument for turning anyone away. That is not what I am saying.

I propose that we write to the Minister in charge of this brief to ask what has been done. I asked Mr. Kevin McCarthy this when he was in before the committee and he said that some of it is flagged up in discussion between officials but we must ask the Minister specifically whether he is flagging this up with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and at European Union level. Given the discussion this week in the Chamber, everybody knows that our housing situation is dire. We want to help the people who are coming here. We do not want people sleeping rough. As a host country, for every 1,000 of the population, we are taking 1.4% and that is as it should be. There are a number of other European countries, including northern European countries, that are way below that in terms of the percentage. What discussions are taking place at European Union level regarding that? In the context of managing the public finances and finding the resources to provide accommodation, and all of the other things that must be provided, there are issues that will arise. I propose to the committee that we write to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to ask him that. Is that agreed? Do other members wish to comment on any other aspect of that?