Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein)

Migration is one of the most important issues facing Ireland today. It touches housing, public services, education, employment and, above all, the type of society that we build. Migration must be managed properly. It cannot be left to the chaos of global markets, nor can it be dictated by the short-term needs of corporations. States have a responsibility to plan migration in a way that serves both the needs of those who come here and the communities that welcome them. Unfortunately, the Government's approach has been nothing short of an inexcusable disaster. It has failed to plan, failed to engage with communities and failed to ensure the capacity of housing and public services to meet the growing demand. The result has been division, frustration and fertile ground for those who seek to exploit people's fears for political gain. Our international protection system is not working. Decisions and appeals take far too long. Deportations are not enforced, even in cases of criminality. Meanwhile, profiteering of IPAS centres and accommodation has reached scandalous levels. We now know that private operators, some with links to organised crime, have made millions off State contracts, while communities have been stripped of any real say in decisions that directly affect them. This cannot continue. We in Sinn Féin have called for a full review of the IPAS contracts, to end planning exemptions and to properly engage with local communities before centres are located. This was not happening.

We are also deeply concerned by the Government's decision to sign up to the EU asylum and migration pact. In doing so, it is handing over powers that should remain in Irish hands. The Irish people are best placed to make decisions that reflect our unique challenges, whether that is in the housing crisis, pressures on services or our responsibilities under the common travel area.

The Government's handling of the temporary protection directive is another case in point. Continuously extending temporary measures for Ukrainians until 2027 is not sustainable. People need certainty and clarity, whether that is to support them to return home when it is safe to do so, or a clear pathway into our permanent immigration system. Then we have the ARP. The scheme is not only unfair but has had a distorting effect on the rental market, pushing up rents and reducing availability at a time of unprecedented crisis. We have consistently said that this must be means-tested, limited and restricted to genuine housing within family homes.

This debate is not just about systems and policies; it is about people. We must ensure proper support for integration. We need strategies that work from the ground up, backing community-based initiatives that help newcomers and long-standing residents alike to build shared communities. There must be zero tolerance of racism. When the Government fails to plan, it is not only migrants who are let down but the local communities who are left without resources and support. If managed properly, migration can be a positive force for Ireland. Our health service relies heavily on migrant workers. Many towns and villages have been enriched by new families joining schools, sports clubs, community groups and so on, but for this to succeed, migration policy must be rooted in fairness, planning and respect. The respect must be for those who arrive and for the communities who welcome them. Sinn Féin's position is simple: we must manage migration in the best interests of all, end profiteering, give communities a voice and ensure integration and solidarity are at the heart of the approach. That is how we build a fair society that is compassionate and united.