Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Is cúis náire dúinn é mar náisiún go bhfuil daoine ar shráideanna na príomhchathrach ina gcónaí i bpubaill, idir iad siúd atá gan dídean agus iad siúd atá i gcóras na dteifeach. Le blianta roimhe seo, bhímid ar fad ag féachaint thar lear agus ag tarraingt airde ar na cathracha de phubaill a bhí sna Stáit Aontaithe. Bhíodh teip an Chéad Domhan á lua againn agus muid ag breathnú ar na pictiúirí sin. Anois, is pictiúirí de Shráid an Mhóta atá daoine ag féachaint orthu timpeall an domhain; pictiúirí ina bhfuil teip iomlán chórais na dteifeach sa tír seo léirithe go huile is go hiomlán. Tá sé dochreidte go bhfuilimid tar éis an staid sin a shroichint ag an am seo.

Tá an ceart ag an Aire nuair a deir sé go bhfuil cearta daonna i gceist, gur chóir dúinn na hiarratais ar tearmann a chosaint agus go bhfuil córas ann. An fhadhb bhunúsach atá ann anois, áfach, ná nach bhfuil an córas ag obair. Níl an Stát ag obair agus ag pleanáil i gceart. Bhí a fhios ag an Aire agus an Roinn agus bhí a fhios againne sa Teach seo go raibh fadhbanna ag teacht ach ní raibh an pleanáil déanta. Ní raibh dóthain suíomhanna ann. Fiú agus na suíomhanna á dhó ag na boiceanna seo, bhí a fhios againn go raibh gá lena bhfad Éireann níos mó suíomhanna. Bhí a fhios againn go mbeadh gá le tuilleadh gníomhartha chun a chinntiú dóibh siúd a bhí ag lorg tearmann anseo go mbeadh muid ag tabhairt meas dóibh, ag cuidiú leo agus nach mbeadh muid á gcur ar na sráideanna mar a bhí, agus mar atá, muid ag déanamh leo siúd gan dídean sa tír seo cheana féin. Ba chóir go mbeadh an córas trócaireach agus daonnachtúil i ngach uile bhealach dóibh siúd gan dídean, ó na daoine atá tagtha anseo ag lorg cosanta agus ag lorg dídine agus iad siúd anseo cheana féin atá sa chóras tithíochta. Tá teipthe go hiomlán ag an Rialtas agus Rialtais roimhe seo nach raibh an pleanáil i gceart agus go bhfuilimid sa stad ina bhfuilimid.

Tapaím an deis comhghairdeas a ghabháil le gnáthmhuintir na hÉireann. I want to congratulate and thank the ordinary people of Ireland who have stepped up to the mark, reached out and tried to ensure they can help and offer opportunities to those who are homeless in our society and come to Ireland to seek refuge. They have welcomed them. Where the Department has worked with people in the communities I represent, there has been a welcome and an effort by communities to ensure there is a space for men, women or children.

Communities have also said they need additional services and help with their work. It is not just a question of sites for those seeking international protection. That is the scandal. We need to consider the extra support required by communities, whether it is GPs or helping schools. Steps have been taken, but not enough has been done. That is why we sometimes see anger, which is misplaced. The anger should be directed towards the Government for its failures. There should never be anger in any shape or form directed at those who come to Ireland to seek refuge and those who are down on their luck in the same way that Irish people after the Famine, and even before, went to other countries around the world to seek refuge, a new life and to ensure that they could help those living in poverty in Ireland by sending money home.

We need to look at and understand our history to make sure that we learn from it and protect those who come to our shores. We need to ensure that the IPA system works properly and is fair for everyone. It is not fair to have people living in tents on the streets of Dublin. I want to support those who have called out the bigots and racists in our society who have used this as an opportunity to mobilise and attack those who are down on their luck. A lot more needs to be done to out them and show them for what they are, namely, bigots and racists. We have to challenge all of that, not just in Ireland but throughout Europe where there seems to be a rise in right-wing sentiment. As I said, our communities are great and they need support and services to ensure they can mobilise and respect those who come to our shores.

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