Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I put on record that for nearly four decades, I have been providing accommodation to all sectors of society, including in the past couple of years, to Ukrainian families fleeing the war. I speak today on a subject that has risen its head very much in the past weeks in the town of Killarney, which is the fact that 77 international protection applicants were to be located on the Muckross Road, a mainly tourist and residential area. At yesterday's full council meeting, a resolution put forward by Councillor Niall O'Callaghan was passed asking that the Minister would meet with a group from the town. I am glad it has been organised by the Minister that people from his Department will meet representatives from this area, but what this highlights is the fact that the cart has been put before the horse. What we need in situations like this is consultation ahead of time and not, for example what happened in this case. What happened in this case is county councillors, TDs and Senators all were notified after the deal was done. I would like confirmation on whether the Taoiseach or the Minister can clarify if an actual contract has been put in place with that particular property. In other words, before meeting with these people at all, can we be told on the floor of Dáil Éireann whether this is a deal done? Is the meeting coming as we were informed, too little too late, or what is the contractual situation between the owner of the properly or company operating it and the Department dealing with these international protection applicants?

It is important that we protect what I would call the tourism product in Killarney. Do not get me wrong, Killarney town has risen - as has County Kerry and the rest of the country - to the challenge that has befallen us. It would be very wrong and unfair for anybody to point their finger and say it was the Taoiseach's fault. He did not invade Ukraine. We were left with the situation in which we are but we have to raise questions about the number of people who travel from and jump other countries to come here as international protection applicants seeking protection in this State. Why are we so attractive as opposed to everywhere else? The business people who marched last Saturday were not a group of people who were angry or outraged for the sake of it. These were residents from the Muckross Road and from the housing estates around it and employers from the town, who attended a public meeting. It was what I would call a town hall-style meeting. It was a very respectful and sound meeting chaired by two former local representatives and it was held very properly. A number of things were raised at this meeting. Questions were raised for the Minister as to why Killarney was being put in this situation.

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