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

I wish the Minister the best of luck in her role. I agree 100% with my colleague, Deputy O'Flynn. People in this country have gone out of their way to help people from Ukraine and it was the right thing to do. People opened up their houses and provided people with rooms, which was fantastic. However, a minority of people have come in, claiming they are from Ukraine. They have bought properties here for over €1 million, while living in accommodation supplied by the Government. We should do our very best for vulnerable people from Ukraine or from any place in the world who we can help if we are able to do so.

I am 100% in favour of that. However, I have a big problem with people who are being put up by the State and who take it to another level. I refer to those who come here and have two or three properties. Irish people cannot find housing for themselves and people coming here from other countries to work cannot get accommodation. People who come into this country and are subsidised by the State must be subject to a means test. If that were the case, we could house people who need accommodation and help those who need funding for housing to access it.

I know many Ukrainian people who have come here and are working. They have integrated into society and have made a life for themselves here. I wish them the best of luck. They are integrated and they are helping society. That is 100% the case. However, a minority of people who come to this country claim they are one thing but their financials show a completely different story. That is not helping the people from Ukraine or anywhere else. Neither is it helping the Irish people. Let us introduce measures to help the vulnerable but also deal with the people who have the funds to help themselves.

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