Taoiseach Simon Harris responds to Danny Healy-Rae claim Ukrainian refugees ‘driving flashy SUVs’

Mr Healy-Rae made the remarks in the Dáil on behalf of the Rural Independent Group, with the Taoiseach responding "I am not sure where to start," although he did not condemn the comments.

The Kerry deputy said it was clear the Government had lost control of the migration issue.

"At the same time, many of our own young men and women, boys and girls, are leaving this country to go to Australia, Dubai, Canada and other places because they cannot afford to build houses or to buy them,” he said.

People in Kerry cannot even get planning permission to build houses, he said, while the young were deciding not to take over productive farms because of "constant vilification, demonisation and regulation being doled out by the Government, demanded and driven by the Green Party."

The tourism industry in Killarney and the county of Kerry was suffering because of the influx of migrants who are placed in hotels and guesthouses, he said.

"Some 36pc of bed-night availability is taken up by asylum seekers and refugees," he said, adding that many small restaurants, cafés, pubs and souvenir shops had closed.

"I have been canvassing since 1973. I have never met so many people raising the migration issue. Nobody objects to asylum seekers or refugees if they have a genuine case of distress."

But he added: "Who can explain how they salvaged their cats and dogs, if the bombs were dropping around them, or why our taxpayers are paying so much to quarantine these animals?

"Who can explain how they got time to bring their flashy SUVs and high-powered cars registered in Ukraine with them?

"They are going home for holidays and for Christmas. However, we were told their homes were bombed and blown out of existence," he claimed.

Mr Healy-Rae said people were objecting to people being placed in hotels, being paid full social welfare, "and having a good time inside those hotels”.

Welfare rates paid to new Ukrainian arrivals have recently been cut significantly, while their time in state accommodation is also limited to 90 days.

The Taoiseach pointed out that Mr Healy-Rae had been with the Minister for Housing, Darragh O'Brien, at the opening of a new housing estate in Castleisland recently.

"I have been to Kerry, in many of the hospitality facilities there," he added. "As a result, I know how reliant we are on migrants to staff the tourism and hospitality sectors in Co Kerry.

"I am sure in his next comment the Deputy will acknowledge the very positive contribution of the many migrants who work in hotels, cafés, bars and souvenir shops and all the other wonderful facilities he mentioned in the Kingdom. It would be important for him to do that. "

He added that the Dingle Harbour Lodge and the Hotel Killarney, formerly used to accommodate Ukrainian people, were no longer doing so. In fact Ukrainian numbers in Ireland had fallen dramatically in recent times as people returned home.