Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I raised with the Taoiseach three specific points on which I sought a response on which the Government has failed in its in its approach. The first was on the provision of accommodation and safe shelter. I am glad the Taoiseach said that safe shelter will be provided to those currently forced to sleep in tents on Mount Street but we need to know when. I have been engaging, as have all the other local representatives, with the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, on this but we are deeply frustrated, as are residents as well as the men living in tents. We need to know when that will happen.

The second is the data issue. We need to know where that data is coming from. We understand there is no provision currently for gathering the data on how people enter. We need to know more than just conjectured figures plucked from the air by the Minister. That is crucial in order to create that fair, efficient and rules-based migration process that we in Labour also want to see.

We need clarity on the Rwanda Bill too. While the Taoiseach says an operational arrangement is in place with Britain, what is it? There is a clear difference of approach coming forward from the British Prime Minister, Mr. Sunak, on this. Will the Government publish that agreement and what obligation will it impose on the British Government? We are all of course conscious of the importance of the common travel area. After Brexit, all parties reunited in wanting to see no hard border imposed on the island of Ireland and it is baffling to see some republican parties apparently now reneging on that ideal. That is deeply unhelpful.

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