Go raibh maith agat. I want to speak about migration and the Government’s one-eighty change in tone and policy on immigration. Since the Greens left government, Cabinet members have notably shifted rightward on this, pandering to some of the worst instincts in our otherwise welcoming society. The Government has allowed dangerous rhetoric to obscure its own failures on housing and infrastructure. It is introducing new immigration policies without evidence despite ample evidence of their potential harm to migrant communities in Ireland.

We all hear reports of rising levels of prejudice against immigrants, people of colour and anyone who looks different. We see this in our own communities. We have seen buildings housing asylum seekers and refugees being set alight, including an appalling arson attack in Drogheda, and a man killed last year, Josip Strok, while speaking his native Croatian on a Dublin street. Just now, during the debate on Labour's motion on transgender rights, we spoke about homophobic attacks on the streets.

These violent attacks are rightly condemned by us all but we also need to recognise that policies and rhetoric can contribute to an environment where violence can develop. Words matter when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, as we have all just acknowledged, and when it comes to migrant rights too. What we say as TDs, and what Government Ministers say, really matters.

Last month, the Tánaiste said too many immigrants were arriving into Ireland, wrongly implying that people facing deportation make up a significant share of Ireland’s inward migration. Unfortunately, he was backed by the Taoiseach and others in government. This was really disappointing because we all know what an enormously important and valuable contribution migrant workers make to our society. Our hospitality, tech, health and care sectors all rely heavily on migrant workers. We know this is a reality. Any of us who visit hospitals or care homes will see this. We should express positive recognition of this in our words and actions.

Yesterday, President Zelenskyy addressed a joint sitting of the Oireachtas and we all rightly expressed strong solidarity with the people of Ukraine, but the Government has just stripped financial supports from Ukrainian refugees, and with the backing of some Opposition parties, unfortunately. That cut will disproportionately affect women, children and older people. It does not look like solidarity to us in Labour.

Now, the Government is introducing a mean-spirited rent payment for asylum seekers. This is not a revenue-raising measure. The Minister admits the impacts is unclear. This looks performative. It is nothing more than what we might describe as deterrence theatre, like tightening up the process on citizenship applications or introducing restrictive rules on family reunification. These measures will only make life harder for people who are already suffering hardship and have come here fleeing war and persecution.

The Labour Party calls for a positive, fact-based information campaign on migration. Rather than engaging in a race to the bottom, will the Taoiseach adopt a more positive approach to migration and recognise explicitly the huge contribution made by migrants to Irish society?

I thank the Deputy for raising a very important issue. I have been extremely consistent in advancing the positive reality and experience of inward migration into Ireland. There are many legal ways in which people can come to Ireland to work, live and reside. That is very clear in terms of our work permit system, for example, which has worked effectively and efficiently in respect of various sectors of our economy that require additional workers.

Only last week, I was with Microsoft. It has 93 nationalities working with it in this country. It came to Ireland in 1985, when there was 17% unemployment. That is why this Government focuses on enterprise and economy a lot. I have never forgotten those days and it is a great motivating force to avoid the complacency regarding the economy that many people on the left have. They almost dismiss it as something that comes naturally. Migration has been an important part of Irish economic and societal growth.

There is free movement within the European Union. Many people from the European Union come to live and work in Ireland. They are in many of our companies, in our health service and elsewhere. I condemn any attacks or any form of racism or targeting of people because of their ethnicity.

Ireland is a very different country from what it was 30 years ago. I have met with young people whose parents came to Ireland. They clearly have an ethnic background, they said to us. They are Irish citizens but they have been subjected to intimidation and attack. I abhor that. It is wrong to say the Government's desire to have a fair, robust, legal migratory pathway is somehow incentivising those attacks or contributing to that sentiment. That is a step too far. That sentiment was there long before any changes in the procedures the Government has announced. It is important to have a fair, robust asylum system that is also timely in terms of the consideration of applications and appeals. The absence of such a system would actually create the negative climate the Deputy speaks of. It is part of the issue.

The origins of asylum are rooted in conflict, war and political suppression. I am trying to be careful but the evidence is that for quite a substantial number of those who seek asylum, the motivation is primarily economic. I understand why, by the way, given what is happening in other countries around the world in terms of quality of life and economy, but these are the realities we have to deal with.

I thank the Taoiseach for the considered response. I agree with him on the need to promote the work permit scheme. Indeed, the Labour Party is looking for generosity on work permits and for a more expansive programme of legal pathways to Ireland for people who wish to bring their skills and expertise. That is a very important matter when we talk about inward migration.

For me, this is personal, as the granddaughter of a refugee who came here and contributed enormously to Irish society, as migrant communities do. We need to see political leadership. Of course the Taoiseach is right that there are people seeking to stoke anti-migrant sentiment - a small number of people on the far right - but we need political leadership to counter that. That is why in my constituency I have initiated Dublin 4 and Dublin 6 for All groups. People are welcoming. Across Ireland we are seeing that, but there needs to be political leadership to ensure people can express that welcome and host welcome meetings for new IPAS centres in their communities, as we are doing in Dublin Bay South.

We need this at a national level and we need leadership on this from the Government, and not the sense that rhetoric and policies are hardening. Unfortunately, that has been the experience recently.

Again, I think we have shown political leadership in this country. Remember Brexit happened because of the migration question in the United Kingdom and it has had disastrous results for the British economy and British society as a result of that, so there has to be an intelligent, informed and balanced approach to the migration question. We have to deal with issues as they present themselves, and fears that people have, rightly or wrongly, or people who are influenced by those who want to spread aggression and hostility towards people of different ethnic backgrounds. The Government's leadership is in steering a course that is moving towards a more robust, fair and timely system for dealing with applications for asylum while also then dealing with the more legal pathways, as the Deputy has described.

Always remember that we took a lead as well-----

I thank the Taoiseach.

-----although it was a European Union-wide directive, in terms of protecting Ukrainians and so on. The evidence shows it is not rhetoric but that Ireland responded in a generous manner to that situation but I thank the Deputy for raising it.