Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the visitors from Coláiste Mhuire. I was glad they were here for a while because I would have been entirely on my own otherwise.

We are here this afternoon on the eve of the first anniversary of Russia's brutal war on Ukraine. More than 70,000 people have fled here and more than 7,000 civilians have been killed. This represents the biggest displacement of people on the Continent since the end of the Second World War.

Thousands of people, mostly women, have fled here to seek safety and ensure a future for themselves and their children. At the same time, there are wars and persecution taking place in other parts of the world, in Afghanistan, Iran, Ethiopia, Eritrea and across the globe. People flee their countries because of their political or religious beliefs, because of who they are and because their country is war-torn. They are fleeing here for their lives and to seek safety and shelter.

Since the beginning of 2022, marking both the ending of Covid restrictions and Russian's invasion of Ukraine, we have seen a significant increase relative to previous years in the number of people fleeing here. More than 70,000 people have come here fleeing the war in Ukraine along with 15,000 new international protection applicants. It is the largest response to immediate human need ever asked of the State. We have made use of hotels, barracks and offices, student accommodation and sports grounds. Every week, we are accommodating hundreds of additional people.

Alongside this response from the State, Irish society has also responded in an incredibly generous way. We have seen welcomes extended across the country to new arrivals. Communities have rallied around to support new arrivals in their cities, towns and villages. Thousands of people have opened their homes to those fleeing the war. Almost 7,000 people are now staying in pledged accommodation.

Through the efforts of local volunteers, community workers, public bodies and private sector contributions, many arrivals are being supported with basic needs such as clothing, access to the Internet, transport, English classes and information on how to access local services such as childcare, healthcare and education. This has been a monumental generational effort. In the midst of these difficult days, it is important that we do not forget the scale of Ireland's response.

Over the last six months in particular, we have also seen an insidious thread of racism, xenophobia and fear-mongering emerge. Misinformation and outright lies have been spread on social media and in communities across the country. The vilification of men, in particular, who come here seeking international protection, is deeply problematic. Some of these men have been tortured, while others have been exploited. They have come here to seek refuge and they have been denigrated as something other - something to be feared.

We are in the midst of the greatest humanitarian effort in the history of the State and it is up to us, as a country, to choose who we are and the manner in which we respond. We have to ask ourselves how we want history to remember the State and our people in this particular moment. I believe the majority of Irish people want to see us respond positively to the humanitarian crisis that has occurred across Europe. They do not want to see our country walk off the pitch when challenged. We should be firm in our defence of safety and compassion and also the international protection system.

International protection means fairly and humanely examining a claim for asylum, sheltering and supporting people while that claim is assessed, and giving people the right to stay here in safety where it is judged that that right is needed. We should not be ashamed of doing that or shy away from it. It means there will be occasions when people who have not been successful in their international protection application will be asked to return, or potentially be deported, to their home countries. We should not be quick to vilify these people either because our deep history of emigration means we have an instinctive understanding of the plight of those who have sought to make a better life for themselves elsewhere. Every person in this House, and this room, has a family member who has travelled abroad for the purpose of making a better life for himself or herself and his or her family. We have to recognise that. We have to recognise it is part of our history and recognise the commonality when it happens elsewhere.

It cannot be an accepted norm that someone's permission is required to provide basic shelter to any human being, whether he or she is from Ireland or abroad. I have always believed in the concept of respect for human rights and that an understanding of the plight of others is a key mark of being Irish. We should be proud of that and protect it when it is under attack.

Despite our successes in accommodating 75,000 people who have fled here, we face significant and immediate challenges. As arrivals continue, our ability to contract further serviced accommodation is reducing. In addition, we are facing the loss of some hotel beds across the system. However, I cannot accept a situation, whatever the context, where international protection applicants are going without accommodation. We and the State have to do more to make sure that is not happening. My Department can and will do more to develop further accommodation options, including the building and buying of properties. I will work with colleagues across the Government and Opposition and in the State agencies to do more to support this effort with further accommodation options. We have to expedite the refurbishment of properties. We need to do more to move people in the international protection system who have status on to other accommodation.

I thank Senators for participating in these statements. I look forward to hearing of their experiences. Many of those present have engaged with me directly on specific issues in their locality. As I did in the Dáil last week when I recognised Deputies, I recognise that many Senators have shown real leadership in their communities through engagement on this issue.

We have to reflect. This is the largest humanitarian effort in the history of the State and we are still in the midst of it. It has not always been perfect and mistakes have been made but, ultimately, we are offering shelter and safety to 75,000 people. That is something we should not lose sight of. The value of that,and what it says about us as a country and our individual communities should never be lost.

This country has done a lot to be proud of over the past year. We will be able to look back and say that when Ireland was challenged as a country, we played our part.