Garret Kelleher (Fine Gael)

Cuirim fáilte an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Brophy, agus gabhaim buíochas leis as ucht teacht isteach chuig an Seanad inniu. Mar is eol dúinn tagann sé isteach chugainn go rialta chun ábhair éagsúla a phlé agus is fíor-thábhachtach é an t-ábhar atá os ár gcomhair inniu, ábhar a bhfuil an tAire Stáit freagrach as.

Chomh maith leis sin, cuirim fáilte roimh Martin. Tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go geal leis ina phost nua.

Chomh maith le an-chuid daoine eile anseo agus ar fud na tíre, chaith mé féin cúpla tréimhse thar lear ag obair agus ag taisteal i dtíortha éagsúla, cuid acu i bhfad ó bhaile. Ar an iomlán, d'éirigh go maith liom. Réitigh mé go maith leis na daoine lenar bhuail mé leo agus bhí eispéireas dearfach agam agus mé ar thóir obair, ag imirt spóirt, ag dul amach le mo chairde agus ag déanamh na gnáthrudaí a dhéanann daoine óga. Pé áit a ndeachaidh mé ar fud an domhain, bhraitheas compordach agus slán agus bhraitheas an t-am ar fad go raibh fáilte romham. Tá a fhios agam nach raibh sé sin fíor i gcónaí d'Éireannaigh a chuaigh ar imirce blianta ó shin, daoine a bhí ag iarraidh maireachtáil thar lear, ar thóir obair agus ag lorg saol níos fearr dóibh féin agus dá dteaghlaigh. Go minic ní raibh an dara rogha acu ach dul ar imirce, mar gheall ar riachtanas de bharr An Gorta Mór sa naoú haois déag, mar thoradh ar easpa fostaíochta i sean tír ár sinsir fásta i rith an fichiú haois, agus arís tar éis an caolú eacnamaíochta a bhí againn níos mó ná cúig bliana déag ó shin. I gcomparáid leo siúd, tá an t-ádh linn go bhfuil an-chuid dul chun cinn déanta againn mar thír ó thaobh cúrsaí eacnamaíochta, sóisialta agus fostaíochta, agus go bhfuil sé de phribhléid ag ár nglúin féin nach bhfuil an riachtanas céanna ann dul ar imirce dá bharr easpa deiseanna sa bhaile. Tá a fhios againn go léir go bhfuil breis oibre fós le déanamh ach go háirithe leis an dtithíocht agus cabhair a thabhairt do dhaoine óga atá ag iarraidh saol níos fearr a chruthú sa bhaile.

In short, while Irish people have had to emigrate out of existential and economic necessity in our droves in previous generations, for a variety of reasons we were generally, though not always, well received in countries where we sought to build new lives for ourselves and our families. Since 1951, the right to claim asylum has been an important part of international law and Ireland has played its part in welcoming and giving asylum to many who have fled war and persecution in their home countries to seek protection. As the Minister of State outlined very well in his opening statement, the numbers seeking international protection increased due to an array of different reasons in the years immediately after the pandemic and we have had to respond quickly to this demand.It is very important when we are giving consideration to this, in light of debate and information that is sometimes erroneous in an era of misinformation and disinformation, that we stick to the facts. The facts are that between 2016 and 2019 an average of approximately 2,500 people per annum sought international protection in Ireland. In the three years between 2022 and 2024, after the pandemic, we saw a sharp rise. In 2022 we had approximately 13,500 international protection applications with approximately the same number again in 2023. This rose sharply in 2024 to 18,500. To put it into context, in the three years from 2022 to 2024 alone, there were roughly the same number of international protection applications as there were in the previous 16 years.

The Minister has just been before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, where he spoke about this huge escalation in demand for international protection. He cited it as the primary reason our negotiating position on accommodation was weak but we had to act in accordance with what we were faced with. I am delighted the Minister of State referenced the abhorrent racist attacks that we witnessed over during the summer on members of the Indian community. It is very important that we stick to the facts. He articulated excellently the contribution that migrants make to Irish life in a host of sectors, in particular, the public service. It is important this is not overlooked in the debate .

To summarise, I agree completely with him. The challenges he outlined are not insurmountable. We are making progress, particularly if we look at the area of temporary accommodation and the number of beds provided by the State. He cited the fact that 4,000 State-owned beds are provided to those seeking protection and there are plans to increase this number to 14,000 so that we become less dependent on private providers. This is all part of the firm, fair, effective and robust rules-based system the Minister of State outlined. He and the Minister are no strangers to this Chamber. I look forward to working with them on the challenges ahead and I commend them on their work.