Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. First, let me take the opportunity to once again condemn Russia and its illegal war in Ukraine. I want to reiterate my support, as well as the support of my Sinn Féin colleagues, for the Ukrainian people, for the integrity of the territory of their country and for the sovereignty of their country. Over the past two years, we have witnessed images and reports emanating from Ukraine that reveal a scale of horror and aerial and artillery bombardment of civilians, alongside civilian infrastructure. We have also witnessed the deliberate, unforgivable murder of civilians and the use of torture and sexual violence as an instrument of war. We have seen the deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia, which is simply horrendous. Work must begin to create the space for dialogue around the war in Ukraine. Ireland, like other militarily non-aligned countries, must now step forward and lead moves towards finding a path to peace and bringing an end to the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

Today, we are dealing with a Government motion that seeks to approve an order to extend the accommodation recognition payment scheme, which is due to expire on 31 March this year. We very much appreciate the value this scheme has brought by providing shelter to thousands of people fleeing war. We applaud the thousands of Irish families who have opened up their homes and who have welcomed and provided refuge to Ukrainian families in their hour of need. As I said here before, I am sure the Ukrainian people have found belonging here, as they experienced such an awkward time of disconnection.

Host families deserve the certainty of knowing that this payment will remain in place until at least the end of the temporary protection directive. We appreciate that thousands of Ukrainians have benefited from this scheme, and they must continue to be supported by the scheme. However, the further extension of the scheme creates an unacceptable level of competition for private rental properties. Unintended or otherwise, it does incentivise the displacement of non-beneficiaries of the temporary protection directive - private renters - and affords an advantage to Ukrainian people over other renters. In our view, this is unfair. Equality and fairness have to be at the heart of this, consistent with social protection entitlements for new arrivals.

Therefore, in line with the approach to social welfare for new arrivals, it is imperative that we bring our offering more in line with other EU countries. Our priority must be to protect renters in the private rented sector from any further pressure. With that in mind, we have tabled an amendment to the Government's motion before us today. We propose that the scheme should only be extended for existing recipients with respect to Ukrainian people who are currently benefiting from the scheme and new people who sign up to host people in their own homes, or new hosts. The purpose and intent of our amendment would be that no new vacant properties could be signed up to the scheme and no new people could sign up to the scheme using rooms that students would otherwise avail of.

Speaking more broadly as to what should happen when the temporary protection directive does come to an end for Ukrainian people currently in Ireland, we believe the Government should signal now to Ukrainian people and the EU that our immigration laws will apply once the special status of Ukrainian people under the TPD expires in March 2025.If conditions in Ukraine, or parts thereof, allow for a safe and durable return, that should be the default position. Ukrainian people who wish to remain here after the expiration should begin to apply for work permits. If they are from a part of Ukraine that is unsafe, they could also apply for international protection.

Ireland has become an outlier in Europe. We are offering full access to social welfare, as well as higher rates of payment than are offered in other countries. I acknowledge that the Government intends to reduce welfare payments for Ukrainian people who have recently arrived and are placed in designated centres, which currently do not exist. However, I am concerned that the Government's approach has the potential to create an incentive which will add further pressure on renters and the private rental sector. The Government is doing this by reducing welfare payments for newly arriving Ukrainian people who live in designated accommodation centres, while offering full social welfare entitlements to those who live in the private rental sector.

Equity and fairness are two issues that are raised with Members of this House, including me, by members of the public and local councillors. In terms of medical cards, for example, it made sense at the outset of the war to award medical cards automatically and defer the means test. However, the HSE issued policy instructions in 2023 to continue to award the medical card automatically for a full 12 months to Ukrainian people arriving. The medical card acts as a gateway to various secondary non-health benefits, as other Departments and agencies consider it to be evidence that a full household means test has been conducted. For example, it gives Ukrainian people an entitlement to pay a lower rate of USC for a year if they are working. Sinn Féin proposes to reduce the preferential treatment in the awarding of medical cards by conducting the medical means test much earlier.

Fairness and equality are important here. I lament that the Government has created a two-tier system for people who are fleeing war and persecution. As a people, we have never failed the victims of war. I urge the Minister to accept our amendment. Its intent is reasonable and fair-minded, as I have outlined.