Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

I ask again about the refugee discrimination the Government is engaged in. Why is a person from Ukraine more entitled to be accommodated than a person from Yemen or Syria, when both are fleeing similar conditions? The Taoiseach earlier said it was because they have a different status but it is a political decision of the Government to give them such a status so it does not answer the question. Why treat them differently? Is it because one is European? Is it because one is white?

This policy against certain refugees is scapegoating the most vulnerable in our society in an attempt to cover up the fact that the Government’s housing policy is a complete failure. This policy will see hundreds of additional men and women rough sleeping in the coming weeks, exacerbating the crisis. Those who arrived yesterday received a €20 Dunnes voucher and were told they would be emailed when the accommodation becomes available. It is scandalous when there are over 160,000 vacant homes in the State that the Government is doing nothing about. Does the Taoiseach accept there is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker? Everyone has the right to come here and apply for asylum.

See this speech in context