Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like others, I compliment the Cathaoirleach on the excellent leadership he gave this morning in our historic morning in the Houses of the Oireachtas. It was historic for the wrong reasons but it was nevertheless wonderful to see the pride, honesty and sincerity of the Cathaoirleach, the Ceann Comhairle, our Taoiseach and other speakers. We all have to stand with the Ukrainian people. That brings me to the point of now being able to support Ukrainian people here in Ireland on an ongoing basis. I do not believe the numbers that have been mentioned will come, but having said that, there will be 40,000 or 50,000 of them here and we have to do everything possible to make them as comfortable and as happy as they can possibly be.

I heard a really sad story from my own region, although I will not say exactly where. Some Ukrainian people have arrived recently. A man was making a delivery there yesterday morning and there was a little boy of seven crying uncontrollably in the corner. Out of curiosity, this man asked some of the Ukrainian people in charge who could speak English what was wrong. He was told that the little boy's dad had been killed in the war the night before. That struck me and really went to my heart. The particular guy who was doing the delivery was also really struck down by it. It really brings it home to you. These people are under a roof and being looked after here but news can come that will devastate whatever little bit of happiness or ease they have.

We will need more support in this area. I commend what the Government has done to date. Quite a few have been taken in at the Cuisle centre in my own county. The Lions Club in Roscommon and the local people have done great work.

I congratulate a lady called Denyse Campbell who is the new president of the Irish Hotels Federation. She comes from Strokestown and is a well-known lady. She will be a magnificent advocate for the sector, as was the lady who has just left, Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, who was excellent. I wish Ms Campbell well in her tenure as president.