No plan yet for Irish families to host Ukrainian refugees, Minister says

Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman has said the Government does not have immediate plans to call on Irish families to host Ukrainian refugees.

His department was working closely with other Government departments looking at a range of options, he told RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show.

“It is early days yet. It is not yet known how many Ukrainian citizens will come here.”

The Ukrainian refugees who arrive in Ireland will not be in direct provision because of temporary protection measures which have been invoked. Hotels will be used initially, for the short term, but medium- and long-term options will be decided when it is known what numbers of refugees Ireland will receive as part of an EU response.

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“This is a fluid situation. We will provide support for Ukrainian refugees.”

There will not be a request for Irish families to host Ukrainian refugees at this point, he said, but the option would be kept open.

When asked if he agreed with the Tánaiste’s description of Vladimir Putin being like Hitler, Mr O’Gorman said that there was no doubting the fact that Putin’s actions had broken all standards of international criminal law. He was involved in war crimes.

Irrespective of comparisons, there was no doubt what kind of man Putin was, he said.