Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Last night, the Mayor of Killarney, Councillor Niall Kelleher, and I met with a number of Ukrainian refugees and stakeholders from the community in Killarney on the outrageous proposal to relocate 135 Ukrainian refugees, mainly women and children, from Killarney to Westport, County Mayo, with 48 hours' notice. These people have been living in Killarney for the past seven months and have put down roots. The children have started school, while the women are working in local businesses and have been set up with their local GPs. Now, with 48 hours' notice, they are being uprooted and sent to Mayo. It is completely unacceptable.

I call on the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to make the proper decision. This is not humane. If we are treating this emergency with a humanitarian response, there has to be humanity at the centre of it.

Humanity has to be at the centre of this. I ask the Minister to look at the alternative accommodation that is available in Killarney, if these people must be moved, and to avoid the appalling situation that is facing them.

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