Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Communication is vital if the Minister wants people to come here from Ukraine seeking asylum. The first time fear was sparked was in Bruff when people were told 100 Ukrainian people, whom they were told were women and children, were coming and then 300 arrived. There were 100 asylum seekers who were male coming in there, inside an area where there were women and children. That sparked concerns. I was recently in Feenagh where a park was opened during the week. The community welcomed three Ukrainian families into their area. This was done by working with the community. The Minister or State should have seen it. It was absolutely fantastic to see the community welcoming them in. Those families felt welcomed and safe. Equally, this was done in Cappamore where there was communication with the communities. They were welcomed in, the women and children, and they were accepted and help was available to them. The same thing happened in Kilmallock and around County Limerick where there was communication. The problem is that nobody coming into this country as an asylum seeker should feel afraid. Equally, the Irish people should not be afraid either from the lack of communication by the Government. All they want to know is who is coming in and what they can do to help, and they will help.

The problem is that the Government drops them straight into communities when there are no services for them. People do not know what they have. The key is communication to, and investment in, the communities, not the other way around. It is like closing the gate in the field when the cattle are outside in the road. That is what the Government is doing. Communication with the communities is key. Ireland will always look after people who are vulnerable.

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