Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 18 January 2024
Public Accounts Committee
Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Social Insurance Fund 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 13 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 14 - Ex gratia Payments of €1.4 million to Social Welfare Branch Managers
Chapter 15 - Raising Social Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 16 - Recovery of Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 17 - Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund
9:30 am
Mr. John McKeon:
I have said at a number of fora that the distance from Kherson or Donbass to Sligo is over 4,000 km. You have to cross six countries. You have to leave your home and your family. You have to leave your husband behind to take your two children. You have to give up your job and travel to live in the west of Ireland in one room for three people and you are coming for €220 per week. Do people really believe that? I am shocked that people would believe it. We spoke to the people with whom we deal. The English language is a huge issue. If I am Ukrainian, there is a good chance I can speak German or English but there is very little chance I can speak French.