Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Senator Martin is right. We can never have enough Kildare people in the one room at the same time. I thank my Fine Gael colleagues for placing this very important Private Members' motion before us today. It is an important issue and it is welcome that we get the chance to discuss it and ask some questions of the Minister of State and his Government colleagues.

I stand here today in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. What is happening in their country is barbaric, wrong and inhumane. The unjustifiable invasion of a sovereign country by a neighbour must be called out and the aggressor, in this case President Putin, must be isolated and targeted economically within the international community. I also want to support the calls from others and, in particular, my party leader, Deputy Bacik, for the expulsion of the Russian ambassador. As Deputy Bacik said yesterday, the time for this has come when we see the horrors being rained down on the people of Mariupol and elsewhere in Ukraine. It is now incumbent on us to do this.

There has been a lot of talk over the past number of weeks about the number of refugees that Ireland will take in from Ukraine. Whatever the final number, what is now most important is that we do our very best for those who, for whatever reason, have chosen our country as a temporary home having fled the horrors of war. Like many in the House, through my office and at meetings I have met and tried to assist a number of Ukrainian families who are in Ireland. The one constant from all of these meetings is the need for answers. There should be a one-stop shop, where we, as public representatives, could get answers to their questions, some of which I will pose to the Minister of State later. It would also allow those most in need to concentrate on enjoying, as has been said during the debate, the welcome from the people of this country as much as they can. I am sure that welcome will continue to be provided, despite the language barrier that means some refugees do not know where to go at this time.

As I said in a public meeting yesterday, there is a time to show what we do best in Irish politics, that is, working together on a cross-party basis to help those who need it most. This is a time for the Government and Opposition to work together, leaving all of the footballs on the other pitch. I want to put on the record and acknowledge the considerable response of the Government to date.

However, in working together each Department must ensure that it provides the answers that will allow all of us to be one-stop shops. That information needs to flow to all of us so that we can provide the answers that so many unfortunate citizens of Ukraine need at this time. We can all appreciate and accept that this is an evolving situation that is changing almost day by day and that the Government response is a developing one, but a one-stop shop is needed and may require one Department and Minister to take overall control of the response of our Government and country.

One of the public meetings I referred to was organised in Athy College, which the Minister of State knows very well. A number of local representatives met the Ukrainian community in Athy and a large number of refugees who have come to the town. I want to thank the principal of the college, Richard Daly, for arranging the meeting. The questions at the meeting were similar to those I have received in my clinic and have been mentioned by many people during this debate, that is, accommodation and where people can go. There were questions about rent allowance. A community welfare officer with whom I have been in contact is still waiting for answers from the rent allowance section. Many of us are seeking clarification on rent allowance.

The second issue highlighted at the meeting was work. As mentioned by colleagues, a lot of refugees want to work and are needed in this country. Doctors and dentists were mentioned at this meeting, and we know there is a shortage of both in all of our communities.Some of them have gone to the immigration service, which is telling them it still does not know what stamp they require, whether it is a stamp 4 or whether they need a stamp to work at all. That is the clarity that so many of us are looking for.

Last night, and over the past couple of days, there was much talk about transport. Many of these families are staying in rural locations in south Kildare, which the Minister of State and other colleagues will be familiar with. Local Link may have an opportunity to play a part in this. That is something, again, that was asked last night. How will these people get their young children to school and themselves to work, should that opportunity arise? Those are some of the questions that were asked last night.

Education was another serious issue asked about last night. I am currently dealing with three university students who are looking to continue their education. I have contacted the Minister of State’s colleague, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, about this. We are looking for clarity in that regard. Two of the three young people are in their final year and they would like to continue that education here if at all possible.

Driving licences have been mentioned. There was a query last night about driving licences and how Ukrainian driving licences would work in Ireland. There has been talk about insurance over the last period of time and how Irish insurance companies will deal with that.

Simple questions about medical cards were asked last night. My office has been asked how medical cards will work, as I am sure the Minister of State's office has been. We are hearing from the great work done to the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Health that every avenue will be open to the refugees who come here. However, what form they should they fill in for a medical card and how they should do so is a question that came up last night and has come up at my clinics and in office over the past couple of weeks. That is the clarity many are looking for, that is, that one-stop shop.

I congratulate my Fine Gael colleagues on this important motion. I ask Government to respond to those numerous questions, if at all possible.