Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In respect of the situation with Ukrainians in this country, first of all, Russia invaded Ukraine savagely, illegally and, in my view, immorally and violated the UN Charter in so doing. It bombed towns, cities and civilian infrastructure. When the war started, I recall scenes of families packing trains and fathers and husbands saying goodbye to their loved ones. That has all been documented. It led to the largest displacement of European citizens since the Second World War.

Up to 12 million people have been displaced. Irish people welcomed Ukrainians into the country. These are refugees. The majority were women and children without strong incomes. This was part of a European directive in which Europe as a whole said we will look after Ukrainian people who are fleeing war. The position the Deputy has adopted is to try to contrast that - very unfairly and wrongly if I may say so, with respect - with the normal situation here in terms of entitlements to health and education services. These are refugees fleeing war. It is a correct and basic humanitarian response to try to do the best we can to facilitate people fleeing war in an obvious situation where apartment blocks are being bombed and so forth.

I am very surprised the Deputy referenced the €800 payment because those people volunteered their houses. Many were not actually looking for €800, which is paid per month, by the way. However, the Government felt that, over time, there would be costs attached to this for repairs. In some instances, the Irish Red Cross Society or local authority would say the building had to be brought up to a certain standard, people had to make sure the electrics were right and so forth. It was fair to say that to people who volunteered their own homes or houses they had or whatever. In some cases, they brought people into their own homes and let them have a room and access to the wider house. That is the context of the €800 payment. That is not going to be extended beyond its provision for people who said they had a spare property or whatever and they would make it available for people fleeing war. The State said it was very decent of them to do that and it would help them by paying €800. That is the context. To say that everybody should get it now on the same terms is not comparing like with like.

The rent-a-room scheme exists. We brought that in for anyone who could rent out a room to any person seeking accommodation and it creates significant tax reliefs.

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