Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

One of the proudest things about being a person living in Ireland is our generosity of spirit. That generosity extends to the welcome so many families who have come here from Ukraine have received in towns and villages across the country. Ballinasloe College of Further Education has people coming to it from Athlone to study English. The college authorities have spoken about how the students are absolutely incredible. These young people include teachers, doctors and nurses from Ukraine who are trying to improve the life they have, learn our language and be part of our society. There are around 12,000 of those people working here and we have nearly the same number of children again attending our primary and secondary schools. We saw that generosity of spirit on "The Late Late Show". Was it not wonderful to see the camaraderie between the young children, especially where families are in pledged accommodation?

I would like to mention an event I attended on Saturday evening in Castleblakeney, which is just outside Ballinasloe. Due to the lockdowns, I have not been to many events like this but it was a fund-raiser for a school for the blind in Ethiopia. A number of tradespeople from the local area, including plumbers, electricians and builders, are going there to construct dormitories.There are approximately 300 blind children at the school in Sebeta, which is just 30 km outside Addis Ababa. The tradespeople are going to be working on the school and the community is trying to fundraise for it. I commend the generosity of spirit of Irish people at a time, after lockdown, when we have become more inward-looking than outward-looking. We need to consider what we can give back and how, and do so every day.