UK Government action to accept Ukrainian refugees “falls well short of what we would all have wanted to see”, justice minister Naomi Long has told MLAs.
She also said there is no evidence of human trafficking into Northern Ireland as a result of the Ukrainian conflict, but the PSNI would continue to monitor the risk.
During ministerial question time, SDLP MLA Cara Hunter said the “lack of support” for Ukrainian refugees from the British Government was “cruel and callous”.
I do believe that the efforts which have been made by Government fall well short of what we would all have wanted to see
Mrs Long said immigration was a reserved matter at Westminster.
She added: “I do believe that the efforts which have been made by Government fall well short of what we would all have wanted to see.
“Whilst I welcome the ability to be able to register our homes online if we are willing to receive refugees, the inability for us to be able, even as an Executive, to be a super-sponsor in this case that would allow us to match refugees with homes, I think, is a barrier to us being able to provide the kind of care that the people of Northern Ireland would wish to do so.”
Last week the Government announced more than 6,000 people from Northern Ireland had expressed an interest in offering their home to Ukrainian refugees.
Sponsors in Northern Ireland will be entitled to claim £350 a month like the rest of the UK.
Mrs Long said: “It is telling that 6,000 people have registered their homes and yet there is no official reception scheme here in Northern Ireland that would allow us to make use of that.”
Asked about the potential of criminal gangs exploiting Ukrainian refugees, Mrs Long said: “To date there is no evidence of human trafficking or exploitation in Northern Ireland as a result of the Ukraine crisis.
There is a real risk that criminals and organised crime gangs will seek to take advantage of the vulnerability of those fleeing the conflict
“The PSNI is liaising with Home Office immigration enforcement officials and An Garda Siochana, and while there will be refugees who may enter Northern Ireland, none of these have sought to enter the national referral mechanism to date.
“Criminals seek to exploit any issue where they see a benefit to them, they do not care about people or their rights, they seek only to line their own pockets.
“There is a real risk that criminals and organised crime gangs will seek to take advantage of the vulnerability of those fleeing the conflict.
“We will do all we can to assess and monitor the risk and ensure we are working collectively with our partners on the organised crime taskforce and the modern slavery and human trafficking sub group to ensure that we are alert to the risks and to seek to prevent any further exploitation.”
