Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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It would be interesting to make a freedom of information request to see how many requests were made and how many were granted.

To be quite honest about it, I have a concern about the quality of food in direct provision centres and accommodation housing Ukrainians. Some of the food is quite good and of a good standard, where the owners of the facilities are committed and care about the people staying with them. I also have seen situations where chicken and chips have been provided, with nuggets and chips for adults. I consider this wholly unacceptable. Does the Department have any role with either IPAS or the Department of integration? I do not know what role it might have in terms of inspections. It is probably does not have such a role but perhaps it should. If a health inspector or environmental inspector went out to these places they would deem them perfectly fine as they meet the HACCP standards. If chicken and chips or sausages and chips are cooked we cannot argue about it once they are cooked properly. My point is that they are not good for people. They are not good for their health. We have 70,000 or 80,000 people in hotel accommodation and direct provision centres. They are being thrown all sorts of trash, to be honest about it, and I am very concerned.