Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

I take a slightly different approach from that of Deputy Tóibín. We have to remember what the ARP is for. It is part of our contribution to help war-torn Ukraine which has been aggressively attacked by Putin's regime. As we are not a military country - we are militarily neutral and not participating in any transfer of weaponry - we have made a contribution as part of the effort to help Ukraine. That includes taking in displaced people from Ukraine and giving them the comfort and safety of living in a democratic area while the war effort continues at home where people cannot live in many cities. There have been a lot of tropes about apartments for rent here, there and everywhere. Ukraine is not able to function and we should continue to help Ukrainians as long as this is part of an overall EU arrangement.

People raise issues about the pressure on housing. The Government's failure to build houses has added to that. It is also the case, as I referenced in the Dáil, that while people welcome those who are genuinely fleeing persecution, be they from Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan or other countries, they do not like people abusing the asylum system who claim asylum but are found not to have leave to remain. Many people in that category are still in the country and putting pressure on our housing and accommodation services. In that context, there is a balance to be struck. As I said in my midnight plane to Georgia speech, many of the economic migrants abusing the asylum process are very nice people, but we do not have the capacity. A Ukrainian fleeing a war cannot be equated with an economic migrant. It is a different thing. Ukrainians, Syrians, Afghanis and Sudanese, people who are actually fleeing persecution, need to be treated differently.

When people are granted full refugee status, they go on the list like everyone else, which is fair enough. For Ukrainians, however, it is not like that. They might end up going back to Ukraine, but they have built a life here, sent their children to school. In many instances, people have got in touch with me because they have had to move to another area and the child was taken out of school. It is hugely disheartening. Friendships and any stability they have are broken up. While many Ukrainians have expressed a desire to go back to Ukraine when the war is over to help to rebuild their country, some will stay in Ireland and the onus is on us to make sure they are well trained, well integrated and net contributors to Irish society. We have done a lot for the Ukrainians and they have expressed gratitude, but that does not mean that because there is pressure from extremist groups, which paint anyone with a different accent or skin colour as part of some great replacement, the Ukrainians should be targeted by a Government trying to appear to get tough. There are areas to get tough on. Do not pick on the Ukrainians or those who are genuinely fleeing persecution.

The ARP reduction will not encourage anyone to rent out commercially. It is a different scheme. Many people who have given properties under this scheme do not want to become accidental or HAP landlords and be tied in. That is the reality. Therefore, let us keep the ARP scheme going for as long as it takes.

See this speech in context