Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too congratulate the Minister of State and wish him well in his role. He was always good in his last role. Ireland must be a voice for peace, justice and freedom. As a neutral country we should be doing everything possible to bring this horrible war to an end. It is amazing, as Deputy Connolly said earlier, how we can talk about no place else only Ukraine. As horrific as it is, there are wars going on everywhere. Clergymen were slaughtered in churches in Africa recently and there was not a word about it.

Did the Taoiseach, Tánaiste or the Minister of State raise the matter that is central to Ireland's immigration policy at the European Council meeting? It is imperative that we discuss it. The Rural Independent Group, which I am the leader of, has been calling for a grown-up and adult debate on Ireland's immigration policy for over six months. In 2022 Ireland took in over 70,000 people. We just cannot sustain this. I always said we should have capped it at maybe 25,000 or 30,000. Rinneamar ár ndícheall and in the sense of the meitheal people have helped but what is going on now is clandestine with busloads of people coming in during the middle of the night, many of whom are not from Ukraine, and it is happening in secrecy. I mention what is happening in Lismore House Hotel in County Waterford and what is happening in Cathair Dhún Iascaigh, where there are rumours. We do not get the information so I ask the Government to give us the information. The people have rallied and will rally but they need to be supported and not blackguarded. We need an adult, sensible, reasonable and respectful debate and we should not be shouted down here as we have been when looking for this debate. The whole country is talking about it and that includes every village, street and corner and we cannot have a debate in this Chamber. It is quite absurd.

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