East Wall and immigration
Deputy Mattie McGrath called for debate on immigration, local community concerns and NGO spending. The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth replied that Ireland accommodates people fleeing multiple wars and decisions are made through the protection process.
I want to ask the Taoiseach about the situation that is going on in East Wall and many other areas in this country with inward immigration. As the Taoiseach knows, the Irish are people of céad míle fáilte and 1,000 welcomes. They are a very welcoming people. However, we one sees busloads of young men arriving in an area in the dead of night and being put into industrial buildings, which we see happening in different parts of the country, we need a proper debate and a proper understanding. We must listen to communities and not have the head of an NGO for dealing with refugees lecturing the community as to what they should do and how they should behave. This has gotten out of hand. We need a major review of how this is being handled. The Taoiseach said that there should be consultation in spite of what these NGOs said.
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These highly paid NGOs cost nearly €6 billion per year. They are running amok in this country and are treating the people like second-class citizens. We need proper legislation on this. We cannot just sustain this.
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It is causing strife and angst to everybody. We are trying to help people who are in a war, but these people are not from Ukraine.
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That is shameful.
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As a country, we are providing accommodation to 64,000 people right now, many of whom are from Ukraine. These are men, women and children who are fleeing the war there. However, over 17,000 are men, women and children who are fleeing wars elsewhere. Ukraine is not the only war on our planet right now.
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There are wars in Syria, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Just as much as Ireland offers protection to women and children, we also offer protection to men because men are victims of torture and persecution as well. We will not make a determination on whether we protect someone due to his or her gender. We will make a decision-----
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-----in terms of when people have gone through an international protection application process. A determination will be made at the end of that.