Return to ‘normal’ rate of refugees may take years, McGrath says

A return to “normal” levels of incoming refugees may take a number of years, Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath has said.

Mr McGrath said the Government will “absolutely” continue to fulfil its international obligations in relation to accommodating refugees fleeing war in Ukraine and other areas but that it will continue to pose challenges for local communities.

He was responding to People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith who said during Leaders’ Questions that some deputies in recent weeks had fed into a “racist, ugly narrative that is about in our society”.

She said she was calling on communities coming up to Christmas to “open your arms” to incoming refugees and those seeking international protection.

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“Don’t blame them, and learn the facts about what’s happening on the planet,” she said.

Mr McGrath said the number of refugees that have come to Ireland in recent months is “beyond parallel”.

“We have provided a safe haven to more than 67,000 people fleeing a brutal war. We have an obligation to protect them. We may not be able to provide accommodation and support of a standard that in ideal circumstances we would like to do, but we will make sure that their basic needs are met.”

He said much larger number of refugees have arrived in Ireland “relative to what you might call a normal year” but he added: “I’m not sure we’ll see normal years again, that is the reality.”

“We have to develop a system and develop a capacity to respond to people who come here,” he said.

Ms Smith said People Before Profit wanted to respond to a demand that was raised yesterday by some deputies for “a reasonable and respectful” debate around refugees.

“Now it’s not the first time we heard that raised from those deputies,” she said. “We want to say that if the deputies think they’re being silenced for wanting real and respectful debate, then they need to check their facts and move very sharply away from the hateful and dangerous lies that are being bandied about by elements who have different interests in blaming refugees.”

On Tuesday, Independent TD Carol Nolan said that immigration issues “cannot and must not become no-go areas in our political discourse. Unfortunately, that is what appears to be happening.”

She also called for a pause on arrivals.

Although she did not name any particular TD, Ms Smith said today: “I would say to them, rather than punching down at those who may be perceived to be below us because they come here looking for refuge and help and support, you should kick up and look at what the Government have done in terms of homelessness, the health crisis, the lack of child care, workers moving away from education because they can’t live in their towns and cities.”

“The argument around refugees in the social media, and published online, with some of those TDs featured in them, is absolutely hateful. And it is really bizarre to me that those who profess to hold Christian values most preciously in this chamber are the ones who are now sending out a seasons’ greeting that says there is no room at the inn.”

She also hit out at what she labelled as “racist stereotypes of single men of military age coming to this country” and said “we need to be careful not to repeat far right arguments in an attempt to deflect from the real social causes and economic problems that we have, which are the responsibility of the people opposite me.”

“When you strip away those who have come from Ukraine, most of the refugees are coming from Georgia, Algeria, Somalia, and Zimbabwe,” deputy Smith said. “Most of those societies have been massively impacted by the war in Russia, in particular Georgia. A million men left Russia during the conscription for the Ukraine war, and most of them ended up in Georgia. Georgia is in the eye of a large geopolitical storm, and is meant to be next in line for attack by Russia.”

Minister McGrath said it was “important that we facilitate open debate” adding that “members of the public are entitled to raise concerns and are entitled to undertake legitimate protest”.

“That said, we as a Government have international obligations which we absolutely will fulfil.”

He said the “response of the Irish people to the humanitarian crisis in relation to the terrible war in Ukraine, and also those coming here seeking international protection, has been second to none”.

“And I think we would expect nothing less from the Irish people,” he said. “That is not to say that it has been easy. It has not been easy, and it will continue to present real challenges for the public service, for the Government and for communities all over the country, who we ask to take in groups with people who they do not know and inevitably that will be exploited by people who hold certain views. There’s no question about that.”