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

I thank the Senators for their contributions. Senator Seery Kearney reminded us that we are having this discussion as a result of the dual crises that Ireland and all other European countries have had to deal with through the past two years, namely, the impact of the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the humanitarian impact in terms of the largest migration of people across the European Continent since the Second World War. In the context of the pressures everyone has spoken about here today, we should not forget that we are dealing with something unprecedented - a once-in-a-generation event in terms of the movement of people. Ireland and other European countries have had to deal with that, as well as, at the same time, a very significant increase in the number of people seeking international protection in Ireland and other European countries. That is partially linked to the Ukraine crisis in terms of migration routes through Europe being completely moved around and it is partially linked to the ongoing wars and violence in our world, such as in Afghanistan and Syria, and now in Gaza and Palestine. These wars and conflicts are creating the movement of people throughout Africa and the Middle East and that is having an impact on all European countries. Indeed, many European countries have seen a much higher impact on the international protection side for many years. Ireland is now experiencing approximately the European average rate of arrivals. That is creating real pressure on the system and we absolutely recognise that. It is why we need to reform the system.

Our system on the international protection side was not fit for purpose when it was dealing with 2,500 or 3,000 people per year; it is certainly not fit for purpose when 12,000 or 13,000 people are seeking international protection. That is why the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has done such important work on changing the processing system, putting more staff into the International Protection Office in the Department of Justice and increasing the number of people whose applications for international protection are being adjudicated on. We have got that figure up to approximately 1,000 per month from maybe a couple of hundred only a year ago. That is an important change. Changes are being made to the safe country list in order that certain applicants from those countries can be processed more quickly. There are changes to visa arrangements where we thought there was an issue of abuse a year and a half ago. We are making changes to the processing element.

We also have to make changes to the accommodation element. As a State, we cannot be reliant on the private sector for the accommodation of international protection applicants. That is why I will be bringing forward proposals in that regard. We are engaging in a detailed way across government right now in respect of how we can add a substantial core of State-owned accommodation for international protection applicants. We will have better control over the conditions and where they are located and it is a better investment for the State in terms of a once-off capital cost rather than the very significant current expenditure that is needed at present.

We are also responding and making reforms in the context of our provision for Ukrainians seeking temporary protection here. We are making a very significant change which the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is currently bringing through. Ukrainians who arrive here from the end of this month will get a much more limited accommodation offering of 90 days and while they are in that accommodation they will receive a much more limited social protection offering, at a level similar to that offered to international protection applicants. That is a big change, but a necessary one. Europe has changed its offering as well. While the war was in its initial stage, it was right for us to take that open position and support Ukrainians. We have been able to do so primarily because communities throughout the country saw this war and the implications of the invasion for women and families and rallied to support Ukrainians in their area.

Responding to the twin crises of the war in Ukraine and the wider increase in international protection applications, however, places a significant pressure on the system here in Ireland. That is acknowledged. It is a pressure that is felt all over Europe but it is a pressure we are feeling now. That is why we are making changes. Alongside that pressure, there is a humanitarian obligation, particularly when it comes to families and children. Throughout Ireland, there is an understanding that we do not want to see people left unaccommodated. That is why our Department has to act urgently. As long as we, as a Department, are dependent on private sector accommodation, we have to take that where we can find it.

Senators McGreehan and Hoey spoke eloquently about Drogheda and its history as a town in terms of fostering integration in the long term, as well as in recent years as part of the response to international protection and Ukrainian needs. I do not deny for a moment that the decision regarding the use of the D Hotel has an impact for the town. Our Department will be engaging today with Louth County Council at chief executive level in respect of how we can work together. We will work with all parties of good faith in Drogheda who want to make this work. The Government will continue its commitment to Drogheda. That commitment is demonstrable in terms of the support for the Drogheda implementation board and tourism in Drogheda and east Meath in order that we can continue to draw people to that area. We will continue to work in that regard. There are Government schemes available. The Government has made clear that there will be a new round of community recognition payments, again seeking to target additional State investment in areas that are hosting significant numbers of international protection applicants and Ukrainians fleeing the war.

As regards our approach to the use of hotels, a Senator asked about shared use of hotels and the like. That does happen sometimes, usually when the hotel is providing accommodation for adult males. In those situations, we can look at some sort of shared use approach. Where a hotel is being used for children, as is the case in this scenario as it will be families, there are significant complications, particularly in terms of child protection.Given that our Department is responsible not just for integration but also for children, those child protection elements are hugely important for us. Our Department and other Departments will work closely with Louth County Council, with local development companies and with all interested parties. I know there has been a strong welcome for people from different countries in the Drogheda area in recent years. We will work with everybody on putting in place the necessary supports that we can put in place.

To return to the approach on a national basis, there is real pressure because of two major crises. Significant changes are being made right now on the accommodation offering as part of the short-term response to the needs of Ukrainians, in particular. We already see that having a real impact on the numbers arriving. They are down significantly over the past number of months, particularly since the Christmas period.

I have to be as upfront as possible with Senators in saying that there is real pressure on the international protection side. The numbers arriving are increasing. It is a factor of wars. I have no doubt that changes in the UK are also an element in that regard. Our Department will work to continue to meet the emergency humanitarian needs of people in the short term. We are also conscious that a big reform piece is taking place across the Department of Justice when it comes to processing and across our Department in terms of getting more State-owned, stable, planned accommodation. This work is ongoing. We will be bringing proposals to the Cabinet in the very near future.