Rural Ireland is now becoming ‘ungovernable’
LOCAL politicians are warning that rural Ireland is becoming ‘ungovernable’ as anger builds over accommodation centres for refugees across the country.
Fine Gael party headquarters yesterday declined to comment on the Ballinrobe refugee controversy where plans to accommodate international protection applicants in a disused hotel were called off.
A crowd of several hundred people gathered outside the former JJ Gannon’s Hotel in the centre of the town after news of the imminent arrival of 50 male asylum seekers was released by Fine Gael councillor Michael Burke on his Facebook page on Friday.
Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne told the Saturday with Colm O’Mongain RTÉ Radio 1 show that local communities were concerned about the impact on services.
He said the Government needs to implement a public information campaign to explain how policy operates with regard to those who come to Ireland seeking asylum.
He added: ‘A lot of people don’t understand that. When you have a vacuum of information, that vacuum is filled by bad actors. We hear these tropes thrown out regularly that we have a lot of unvetted people coming into the country. That’s not the case.
The wider public do not necessarily know this.’
Though the party did not comment, one Fine Gael TD warned that Ballinrobe was the latest example of ‘how the situation is beginning to build, and rural Ireland is becoming ungovernable.’
They added: ‘People are not fools, they see multimillionaires buying up derelict buildings and nursing homes and turning them into refugee centres. Why wouldn’t they? There’s no planning laws when it comes to centres, there’s no HIQA, it is becoming the Irish equivalent of war profiteering.’ Another Fine Gael TD warned: ‘No-one dares to say anything in public, but everyone is talking about it.
‘Refugees have been flung in willy-nilly across rural Ireland in places where there are no facilities to cater for them and the first time we hear of a purchase in affluent Dublin constituencies is this week.
‘It is going to be ungovernable, and the Government is not listening when we warn about this. It is the biggest issue we face and it will f*** up any plans the Coalition has for re-election.’
Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara warned: ‘The current demonstrations are absolutely sinister and deplorable, but it is the inevitable consequence of the absolute refusal to discuss people’s legitimate concerns.
‘I remember party leaders calling communities all sorts of names, anyone who asked questions was a racist. That is not in any way to condone or excuse what is happening in terms of threat and arson, but the Government has let the genie out of the bottle, and it is going to get a whole lot worse.’