‘Heated’ Cabinet row breaks out over proposed new approach to accommodating refugees fleeing Ukraine

A major row erupted at cabinet on Tuesday over the State’s refugee accommodation crisis.

Sources familiar with the discussions among ministers characterised it as among “the most divisive, heated discussions” that have taken place at government level since the coalition was formed.

The row was sparked by a presentation given by Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman on a proposed new approach to accommodating new arrivals fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, which would see them accommodated for only 90 days before being sent to the private sector.

There was no memo for decision at the cabinet, although it is understood the proposal has been discussed by the three leaders of the coalition parties at their weekly pre-cabinet meeting for the last two weeks.

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Sources familiar with the cabinet discussion said that Mr O’Gorman told cabinet that the current approach was not sustainable and would result in people on the streets and that the state couldn’t continue to accommodate the present number of arrivals.

There was pushback from Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who said that the proposals were tantamount to moving responsibility to the Department of Housing, which would have to provide housing or homelessness services for those exiting state provided accommodation after 90 days.

Mr Martin’s concerns were shared by Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien. The Tánaiste is also said to have raised concerns about the impact on the schooling of the children of people who had to exit accommodation so soon.

Mr O’Gorman is said to have in turn “vented a lot of frustration”, saying there had been multiple cabinet subcommittees discussed at length without any decision or outcome. Mr Martin is said to have countered that proposals for cabinet are often deferred.

There was also some concerns raised that there was a presentation with no memo, but the proposal described is understood to be very close to one discussed at a cabinet subcommittee two weeks ago.

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Government sources later added that plans to establish “five or six″ major centres for Ukrainians around the country and gradually end the use of hotels were not ready to be signed off by Government. Some disagreement centred on the proposal that refugees would be asked to leave the temporary centres after 90 days.

There is also a belief in some parts of Government that that comparably high Irish rates of social welfare are acting as a magnet for Ukrainian refugees.

Earlier, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said there is evidence that people fleeing the war in Ukraine are arriving in Ireland from other European countries, rather than directly from the war-torn state.

Speaking to reporters in Dublin today, Mr Martin described a “phenomenon” where people are coming to Ireland from other European states.

“There is some evidence that perhaps there’s some secondary transfers now from across Europe as opposed to directly from Ukraine and that’s the issue that’s being examined now in terms of any new arrivals into the future.”

Under the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) those fleeing the conflict have the right to live, work, travel and claim benefits in the EU.

However, the Tánaiste would not be drawn on government plans to reform the system for accommodating and supporting people here, or whether they would be targeted at those who are arriving here from other EU states. He said he couldn’t quantify the number of people arriving in this manner.

Proposals drawn up by officials and circulated to ministers suggest time-limiting the provision of accommodation to new arrivals coming under the directive, with coalition leaders discussing proposals last night.

However, they were not deemed ready to be considered by cabinet yet. Mr Martin said he would not discuss potential reforms “until the government has completed its deliberations”, a process which he said “won’t be too long” in concluding.

Mr Martin told reporters that Ireland’s response to the war has been commented on “favourably”.

“It’s a vicious war, it’s a very savage war, and many people fled that war, particularly during the bombing campaigns of last year on infrastructure and civilian residential accommodation,” he said.

“We’re not a military power, we do not provide any military assistance like other European countries do, and some extraordinary public expenditure has been incurred by other EU member states. So ours has been predominantly on the political and humanitarian front, in terms of supporting Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and accepting refugees from the war.”