Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad for this all-important discussion. Like many colleagues, I have been engaging with Ukrainians in my area of Limerick over the past while. Only last week, I met with a company called TRANSLIT, the CEO of which, Alex Chernenko, is from Ukraine. The company is offering free translation services and I assisted it in registering that offer of support. It has been working with many of the people who are coming here. The Polish consulate in Limerick has been very much to the fore, with many of its staff providing help to colleagues and neighbours in the region.

Many of the issues that have been raised with me already have been spoken about by colleagues. Senator Dooley suggested there be a reception centre at Shannon Airport. The Minister said there is one in Limerick but I agree there should also be one at Shannon Airport. It is the first point of entry and welcome in the region. There are such centres at the ports and in Dublin Airport and I hope he will consider something similar for Shannon.

Some 5,000 people from Ukraine have arrived in the country, many of them children. I do not want to see a direct provision situation being provided for them because we are trying to eradicate that system. We know further large numbers of Ukrainians will be arriving here and they are all very welcome to our country. We need to look at long-term supports and accommodation for them. The Minister referred to the Green Glens Arena. I do not want to see that turned into a type of direct provision accommodation.I spoke to representatives of many schools and colleges. Mary Immaculate College in Limerick is taking in many Ukrainian refugees. It has reached out and that is just one institution that is taking in refugees. I also understand that more than 1,000 college beds have been pledged as well. This is most welcome.

I pay tribute to the Irish people and the level of support that has forthcoming. More than 20,000 beds have been pledged to date and the number is rising. Only today, people contacted me to ask where they could register their support to provide accommodation. There is also the humanitarian support. People have been very generous and not only with financial support. Many truckloads of donations have also gone out via the local authorities. Limerick City and County Council has not been found wanting in this regard. Several truckloads of donations have gone out as a result of the people of Limerick and the mid-west contributing to the fund. The Redemptorist Fathers have people on the ground who have been living in Ukraine and they have collected a large amount of financial donations from the public. People have been very generous and that money has gone directly to Ukraine and it is being used to support people by paying for flights for those who cannot afford them. Equally, it is being used for the provision of food and water and those kinds of things. It is great to see so many Irish links with the people of Ukraine. I look forward to receiving regular updates from the Minister. I compliment him and the Ministers for Justice and Social Protection for the fast turnaround of supports. The Minister is key to this fast turnaround. People have been provided with PPS numbers and payments and they have been registered quickly as they arrive in the country. This is most welcome.