Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Cathaoirleach and the Acting Leader will join me in congratulating our former colleague in the House, Tony Mulcahy, on becoming a member of Clare County Council. It is great that he is back in politics as he has a huge amount to offer. Councillor Mulcahy has been in touch with me on an issue which has already happened in County Clare and is happening again. Some 74 Ukrainian citizens are being moved from Shannon to Lisdoonvarna, even though 27 of them are in full-time paid employment in the Shannon area, providing essential supports in the hospitality and tourism industry, many of them are involved in clubs and organisations and a number of them are in school. At the stroke of a pen, these people are being moved from Shannon to Lisdoonvarna. People who understand the geography of County Clare will realise that Shannon is the bones of an hour's drive from Lisdoonvarna. How are these people supposed to keep their jobs? How are they supposed to go school?

The Taoiseach has spoken about moving from an emergency response to a considered medium- to long-term plan and strategy. This happened in Ennis. People were moved from Ennis to other parts of the country. It happened in Killarney, where overnight Ukrainians were moved from Killarney to some other part of the country and it is happening now that people are being moved from Shannon to Lisdoonvarna. I would like the Acting Leader to contact the Minister's office to immediately stall this and respond to these people, Councillor Mulcahy and the wider community in Shannon who welcomed the Ukrainians with open arms and are up in arms over what is happening to them. This needs to be stopped and we need to see a medium- to long-term strategy under which these people can continue their integration into the community, continue to provide the supports they are providing to the service and tourism industries and the young people can continue to attend their educational institutions and, I hope, progress to university. Many of these people want to continue living in our community. They have been made very welcome. They have embedded roots at this stage and are beginning to blossom. What do we do as a Government and Department? At the stroke of a pen, we move them like sheep. It is not acceptable and it is happening in other parts of the country as well. This practice needs to stop. People who have been in our community now for two years and longer need to be treated with a bit of respect and the people in the communities who have welcomed them also need to be treated with a bit of respect.