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‘Floatels’ for asylum seekers on the cards, as Apple tax case floats on

Inside Politics: Sites in Dublin and Cork under consideration as Coalition explores using ships to house people

The Port of Cork confirmed Horgan’s Quay had been identified as possible locations for accommodation. Image: Google Streetview

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Jennifer Bray
Wed May 24 2023 - 08:06

There was one issue that dominated Dáil proceedings yesterday, and it features on our front page again today. One of our lead stories deals with the persistent challenges posed by the chronic lack of housing and shelter for new arrivals into Ireland, including refugees and asylum seekers.

After months of rebuffing the suggestion that so-called floatels or cruise ships could be used to accommodate asylum seekers, it seems the idea is now firmly back on the cards.

As Jack Horgan-Jones reports this morning, the Government is set to issue a formal call for floating accommodation to house asylum seekers.

Don’t expect to see such floatels in place until later in the year, though.

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Horgan-Jones reports that several sites may be under consideration for berthing floatels, including Sir John Rogerson’s Quay in Dublin. The Port of Cork confirmed Horgan’s Quay and Penrose Quay had been identified as possible locations for accommodation.

The decision to suddenly change tack and explore using ships shows how strained the accommodation situation is, and gives an insight into the obvious scrambling that is going on behind the scenes.

An interesting feature of the statements in the Dáil yesterday was how politicians of all hues were united in their condemnation of protests outside the locations where asylum seekers are living.

Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman described a recent blockade as “inappropriate” while Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin said protesting outside where someone lives was wrong, whether it was outside someone’s home, outside a reception centre or a tent on a street.

Labour TD Duncan Smith was particularly strong and said what was seen last week in terms of tents being burned down in the south inner city was a turning point and one of the most despicable acts he had ever seen.

To read the contributions of many of the TDs, Sarah Burns kept an easy-to-follow blog here.

The ‘non-lethal’ cyber aid that took politicians by surprise

Cormac McQuinn reports this morning that Ireland’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has been providing “non-lethal aid” to Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

TDs and Senators were given the information during a committee hearing yesterday. Dr Richard Browne, the director of the NCSC, said the assistance has been given in “significant volumes” and “helping Ukraine helps us better protect the people of Ireland”.

The Government has repeatedly outlined that Ireland is militarily neutral but not politically neutral when it comes to the war in Ukraine.

Pat Larkin, chief executive of Ward Solutions and the chairman of Cyber Ireland – of which the NCSC is a member – said it is “hard to quantify” if it increases cyber risks to Ireland emanating from Russia but said: “You’ve got to think that anybody [who is] politically aligned to Ukraine does face that risk.”

Apple tax saga rumbles on

It’s hard to believe, but the Apple tax saga has been rumbling on for nearly a decade. It looks, however, like the controversy is entering its final year.

After a two-year formal investigation, the European Commission decided in August 2016 that Apple owed the State €13.1 billion of alleged back taxes as a result of illegal state aid. Apple and successive Irish governments have consistently said that the tax was not due.

The issue came before a top EU court yesterday as Apple, the European Commission and Ireland faced off again. This, however, will be the final court of appeal.

In a handy explainer, Dominic Coyle and Joe Brennan explain the significance of the case. They outline how the saga has been a political irritant - after all, what Government wants to be seen to reject a sum as substantial as €13 billion?

They also point out how important this case is to the European Commission.

“From the commission’s point of view, another defeat in this final court of appeal would deliver a potentially fatal blow to the commission’s policy of pursuing what it considers aggressive corporate tax planning though state aid rules.”

Elsewhere, Naomi O’Leary has the full news report on the hearing.

She writes that the advocate general – an official adviser to the court – is expected to deliver his opinion on the case on November 9th, and the court’s final ruling may come early next year.

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Pat Leahy has a story detailing further woes for Fine Gael, as David Stanton, who has held the Cork East seat for the party in every general election for more than a quarter of a century, has announced that he will not seek re-election.

Rare Maud Gonne recording released: ‘I couldn’t remain a mere spectator in such a one-sided battle’

Stardust inquests ‘about to enter into a very different stage of proceedings’ says Dublin coroner Dr Myra Cullinane

Ron DeSantis to enter 2024 presidential race in Twitter event with Elon Musk

Here is Mark Paul’s London Letter: Suella Braverman is the latest to damage her standing as old pretenders re-emerge

Playbook

Dáil Éireann

Proceedings kick off with Topical Issues at 9.12am, followed by Private Members’ Business at 10am when the Labour Party will table a motion in relation to access to autism and disability assessments and supports.

Leaders’ Questions will be taken at noon, with Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, the Regional Group and the Independent Group in the driving seat.

There will be a Government motion just after lunch to extend the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme which helps businesses with soaring energy costs.

At 1.05pm, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will take questions. The Government business of the day will see the Court Proceedings (Delays) Bill 2023 go through the second stage of the legislative process. This Bill creates a statutory right to a conclusion of proceedings within a reasonable time.

There is a voting block at 9pm, and the Dáil adjourns at 9.30pm.

The full schedule can be found here.

Seanad

Commencement Matters are up at 10.30am, and the Order of Business is up an hour later.

At 12.45pm, the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 will go through the final stages of the legislative process. This Bill resolves the legal barriers to the use of e-scooters, as well as e-bikes.

Then at 3pm, the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022 will be debated.

Private Members’ Business is up at 5pm, when there will be a motion calling for the new national children’s hospital to be named after Dr Kathleen Lynn. It is being brought by Fianna Fáil Senators.

The best of the rest can be found here.

Committees

The Joint Committee on Health meets at 9.30am to consider the HSE National Service Plan 2023.

At 10am, the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs will hold an engagement with the Ambassador of Moldova, H E Larisa Miculet, on the EU accession process.

At 1.30pm, the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media will discuss the development of local and community arts.

The full schedule can be found here.

P.S. We’re pleased to say that this newsletter has been shortlisted for best politics newsletter at the inaugural Publisher Newsletter Awards, run by Media Voices in the UK. Thanks for your ongoing support.