Our motion to disobey Govt is not racist
A POLITICIAN has denied that a motion calling on a council to stop cooperating with the Government on asylum seekers and refugees is racist.
Mayo County Councillors unanimously agreed at a meeting on Monday that officials should cease “cooperation” with the Dept of Integration “until such time as an agreed strategy is put in place to properly coordinate the provision of additional services for the communities hosting refugees and international protection applicants”.
The motion was tabled by Independent Councillor Michael Kilcoyne and received cross-party support, including from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael councillors.
CONCERNS
The Castlebar-based councillor told the Irish Mirror there should be “equality in numbers” of asylum seekers and refugees across the country.
Cllr Kilcoyne said local people have raised concerns about health services, policing, housing, education and transport.
He noted there has been an increase in the number of people on trolleys in hospitals, as well as issues securing places on school transport.
He also argued that people in the community, including those who have moved to Mayo from other countries, should not be overlooked for services. Mr Kilcoyne said: “It is not that we have anything against them. We haven’t.
“In fact, we’re concerned about some of the places that they’re being offered accommodation in.
“I don’t see anything racist about saying that the people who were born here and the people who came here, some of them here 20 years from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, who are now left without houses. There is no place for them.”
A spokesman for Micheal Martin said that while he was not aware of the situation, Mr Martin had been “consistent with other councillors” that Ireland has “moral and legal obligations” to asylum seekers and refugees.