Simon Harris: Change to 'sustainable' support for Ukrainian refugees necessary
The 'status quo' for Ukrainian refugees here must change, says Simon Harris. Picture: Giovanni Mereghetti
The "status quo" for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland must change, the Higher Education Minister has said.
Speaking in Dublin, Simon Harris said that while Ireland has responded well to the crisis, it was necessary to change the arrangements for Ukrainians coming here fleeing the war.
“We have welcomed in nearly 100,000 people. We've welcomed them into our communities, we've supported them, we've seen them in our education system, we've seen that in our schools — tens of thousands of people in further education, learning English and other things," said Mr Harris.
"But I think what is also absolutely clear: You always have to be honest with this, the status quo can't continue. We have to be supportive of Ukraine, but we also have to look at the entire package that we can provide to make sure it's sustainable. Because we want to be able to continue to support, so it is done from a place of good, as many European countries are doing.”
It comes after there were “heated” exchanges at Cabinet on Tuesday over Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s proposals, which would see new Ukrainian arrivals only receive State accommodation supports for the first 90 days.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin was said to have pushed back on the plan when it was raised at Cabinet.
It is understood that the proposals were also raised at the weekly leaders' meeting, with sources rejecting reports that Mr Martin did not attend the meeting, with clarification that he instead dialled in from abroad.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Martin also downplayed any suggestion of a row at the weekly meeting, but admitted alongside Finance Minister Michael McGrath that discussions were “robust”.
"So, I think it's a bit exaggerated to say there was a row. I think there have been many challenging issues that have come before us," he said.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also rejected that he blindsided Mr Martin during Cabinet, saying the row "is being exaggerated”.
"Minister O'Gorman has had proposals for quite some time and they've been discussed at leaders' level, and discussed at Cabinet sub-committee level as well,” Mr Varadkar said, speaking in Brussels.
"He asked for permission to raise something at the meeting, which I gave him, and that's not an unusual thing at all. But it was never a case that a decision was going to be made absent of a memo.”
Both Mr McGrath and Mr Harris paid tribute to Mr O’Gorman, with the finance minister saying that he is carrying a “heavy burden” for the Government by dealing with Ireland’s refugee response following the breakout of last year.
Mr Harris said that Mr O’Gorman is “quite rightly” raising the issue.
“I think there's an opportunity here to look at how do we make sure the offering we can provide to Ukrainians is honest and sustainable for the weeks, months, and potentially years ahead," he said.
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