Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I strongly oppose the first and third motions but I think I can support the second motion. With regard to the first motion, I cannot support any proposal that forces Ireland to accept an EU-wide list of so-called safe countries. This is yet another example of Brussels removing our ability to make independent decisions as to who comes into our country. It is a one-size-fits-all policy that undermines our sovereignty. What is worse, it opens the door to even more migrants appealing decisions with no accountability. We need to update our list of safe countries and stop the abuse of the system. It is a pity the former Minister, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, is not here because he sent out a tweet in several different languages appealing for people to come to Ireland. He said they would have their own front door in three months. It was lunacy.

As for the third motion, which has regard to the transition out of temporary accommodation for Ukrainians, I must say that the special treatment afforded to one nationality over all others is contributing to growing frustration across Irish society. While Irish families struggle to get housing, healthcare and even school places, we are told that resources are unlimited when it comes to accommodating tens of thousands of displaced people. There is a never-ending list of entitlements rolled out for the Ukrainians that Irish people cannot access. We see this in the whole modular homes situation in Clonmel. The OPW, the company and the HSE told me that these units would cost €200,000 each. They are not worth €70,000 or €80,000. They are now costing a staggering €480,000 per unit. It is unbelievable. It is disgraceful. It is rotten to the core and there is huge corruption in it. There has to be. There is no long-term plan, no public consent and no acknowledgement of the strain this is placing on local communities. It is leading to social fragmentation and resentment. The special concessions and protections must be cut back. We can all help people fleeing war but I do not believe anyone agrees with the level of special treatment that has been given here.

On the second motion, I do support stronger application of the safe third country rule. Someone who has passed through multiple safe countries before reaching Ireland should not be permitted to lodge a claim here. We are not a soft target. People think we are but we must change our tune. This is about restoring common sense and respect and ensuring our asylum system is not abused. We must cut our cloth according to measure. We want to be the great people who can take everybody in but we cannot. I welcome the apparent change since the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, took up their positions. I hope it will continue because the way things were going on was unbelievable.

My county has been ravaged by IPAS centres. It started with a centre in Roscrea and there are now centres in Dundrum and outside Thurles. Attempts have been made to make the Kilcoran Lodge Hotel into one. The Minister of State has fond memories of that hotel. He says he was there as a page boy at a wedding years ago. He knows how beautiful it is. Hearn's Hotel in the centre of Clonmel has become such a centre and there is another on the border of Carrick-on-Suir. Those are the ones we know of.

Section 5 exemptions have been applied for in a number of places. Such an application was turned down in respect of Abbey House in Cahir. I am thankful the county council saw that these units could be used for Irish families. There are three High Court cases under way regarding a proposal in Dundrum. The Minister of State knows that, the senior Minister knows it and their officials know it. Despite this, they agreed a contract based on a section 5 exemption granted by Tipperary County Council that has now been shown to have been false and erroneous. The council has conceded in court that it erred in granting that section 5 exemption. We were writing to the chief fire officer for 12 months along with ringing and emailing him. He admitted at a meeting two weeks ago that he never visited the site once. Is that respect for politicians or for the public?

What is happening in Dundrum is shocking. Under the Government's own guidelines, demographics should not be changed by more than 5% and yet it is going to put in 277 IPAS people - God bless them - when there is only 200 people in the village. That is senseless. What the Government is doing is outrageous. It is making millionaires out of cowboys. They are not interested in humanitarian need; they are interested in money. Monaghan has been destroyed by a certain gentleman and we are the same in Dundrum. There are three court cases under way. The people who bought the place are suing as well. They will have to weave their way through. I am waiting for the full report the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, promised to Deputy Michael Murphy and me as to how this contract was granted when there were so many issues with what was going on.

The Government has plundered and ravaged our country. It has disrespected the people. It is time it respected the people. Members of Government, especially the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, are punch drunk from being great people who travel all over the world. They should look after our Irish people. They should respect them, the Constitution and the people who fought for it. We had a debate on the GPO two days ago. What is happening here is nothing short of outrageous. I am told we have no social welfare inspectors. We have two in Waterford city and south Tipperary. People are flying in here every seven or eight weeks to collect copious amounts of money before flying back out again. In the name of God, are we pure fools? I ask that the Government please respect the Irish people and the sovereignty of this country.

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