We use Google Analytics to see which pages are read and how the site is used, so we know what to improve. This only runs if you accept. See our privacy notice for details.

Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Irish citizens stranded in Kabul

Summary

Deputy Crowe raises an Irish family, including young children, stranded in Kabul and seeks assurances on bringing them home. The Taoiseach responds by linking back to the Defence Forces and human rights issues raised earlier and says he will meet the women concerned.

Husna Hasbeni is a two-year-old girl living in County Clare. She is an Irish citizen who has been stuck in Kabul since July along with her four-year-old sister, who was due to start preschool two weeks ago, and her mother and older brother. They are Irish citizens. Their home is 200 yards from my house. I know the family. They are stuck in Kabul. It is devastating and heartbreaking. The individuals are among the 60 Irish people who still need to get home. They are watching these proceedings. The video will be watched tonight in Kabul. The individuals need assurances from the Government that they can get home safely to their homeland, that their children can return to education and that they can come back to the life they have always had in Ireland. Will the Taoiseach please give some assurances in this regard in the Dáil today?

Comment on this

I thank the Deputies. Deputy Patricia Ryan raised a question about the women in "Women of Honour" and their search for justice and for the truth to be told. The Government has made no decision in respect of this. As I said earlier to Deputy Tóibín, the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, will be meeting the group. I will be also meeting them on foot of an email I received yesterday requesting a meeting.

Deputy Durkan raised the worrying situation of human rights abuses globally. He is absolutely correct. It is a matter of great concern. I am referring to the growth of authoritarian regimes and the consequent decline in terms of the human rights of citizens all over the world. I would welcome a debate on this in the House.

Deputy Duncan Smith raised the issue of aviation. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is working on it, with both airlines and airports, so we can do whatever we can to support them in increasing traffic in and out of the country and getting the aviation sector back on some footing. It will be slow. This is an area in which Covid is having a lingering and more medium-term impact. Nonetheless, we will do whatever we can.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell raised the issue of derelict sites and the Housing for All strategy. Taxation measures will be introduced that will be more effective in dealing with dereliction of the kind in question and transforming derelict sites into new housing units in towns, villages and cities across the country. That is the objective of the Government in that respect.

Deputy Higgins raised the matter of the 620 homes in Tallaght. I welcome the decision. All political parties need to do everything they possibly can to facilitate the construction of housing and apartments. We need different types of housing projects, including projects to provide apartments and two-bedroom houses, right across the board. I am referring to social and affordable housing and so on. We just need more supply. We owe it to the younger people in this country who need access to housing that we ensure we do not stop projects that could deliver the kind of housing in question. That responsibility is on us, including all parties.

Deputy Cathal Crowe raised the very heart-rending case of his neighbours who are stuck in Kabul and who are finding it very difficult to get out. The Deputy should rest assured that we will do everything we possibly can as a government to facilitate the safe return to our country of Irish citizens. I do not have the name of the person to whom the Deputy referred but the Minister for Foreign Affairs will bring a memorandum to the Government next week in respect of this. The Deputy should not doubt that we will do what we can to facilitate the family and other families or Irish citizens who need to come back.

Deputy O'Dea raised the issue of childcare. We are committed to increasing the investment in early childhood learning to at least €1 billion by 2028 but I take the Deputy's overall point that a fundamental and profound examination is required. There has been an increase in early learning and childcare places nationally of around 60%, and around 27,000 new early learning and childcare places are funded under the capital programme as we speak, but we do need to take a fundamental look at childcare more generally.

Comment on this

I thank everybody for their co-operation.

Comment on this