Martin: Fear far-right groups will exploit Ukrainian refugee accommodation crisis 

Micheál Martin said the country must 'do more', while warning some far-right groups will use the situation to further claims the country is 'full'

Micheál Martin said the situation, which has seen 43 Ukrainian refugees go without accommodation having fled the war over the weekend, should not be viewed 'through the prism” of he or the Government being embarrassed about the situation'.

There is a fear that far-right groups are exploiting the Ukrainian refugee accommodation crisis, the Taoiseach has said.

Speaking in Cavan on Monday, Micheál Martin said the situation, which has seen 43 Ukrainian refugees go without accommodation having fled the war over the weekend, should not be viewed “through the prism” of he or the Government being embarrassed about the situation.

A temporary facility is being established in Dublin Airport on Monday, which will provide temporary beds for 200 people.

However, he said the country must “do more”, while warning some far-right groups will use the situation to further claims that the country is “full”.

That would be a concern that certain groups will exploit this to sort of boost a political agenda around migration and that would be very, very regrettable.

"I think we have to draw heart from the fact that so many communities out there, from the very beginning, have responded very warmly. They won't be on online platforms, talking about their generosity. 

"And that sometimes gets missed and a narrative that many, many communities, the length and breadth of the country have helped Ukrainians and have worked to facilitate Ukrainians coming into the country."

The Taoiseach said more than 45,000 people who fled Ukraine are currently being given accommodation in Ireland, with another 15,000 living in direct provision. He said the extraordinary nature of the response meant it was difficult to pin down just how many additional places the Government may be able to source this week. 

A Cabinet subcommittee will meet on Monday to discuss the issues.

"This is not the sort of normal domestic policy where you definitely say, well, we will do X, Y and in a planned way, this is pretty much a consequence of war. 

"And if you look at where we were last week, at the EU Council meeting in Brussels. What was the issue? Energy. Why? Because Putin has weaponised energy and he's weaponising migration and the bombings of energy infrastructure."

Asked if Ireland would rule out capping or ending the taking in of Ukrainians, the Taoiseach said that there was no question of that happening.

"We have a legal and moral obligation. This is part of the European-wide protection directive. So I believe the moral one is the strong one, but it's also legal, and we're working with other European member states. 

"We're all in this together across Europe. The facility for one country to say you can't come in doesn't exist. And that basically challenges us to be part of that European solidarity. We will continue to do that."

Earlier, speaking in Cork, Michael McGrath echoed the comments of the Taoiseach, but he said the Government must be honest about the system being under strain. 

“We have international obligations that we've signed up to at an EU level and we will fulfil our obligations and there won't be any declaration that Ireland is closed to Ukrainians. That's not going to happen,” Mr McGrath said.

But we do also have to be honest with people who are considering coming to Ireland, that there is not a guarantee of immediate accommodation, and that the system is under strain.

“A number of people in recent days have not been accommodated in a way that we would like and we acknowledge that and so we have to be forthright and honest with the Ukrainian government, with the ambassador, with people who are considering coming here, that they are coming to Ireland at a time when there is strain.”