‘We want DP centre closed immediately’
PROTESTERS in Cahersiveen are continuing their call for the local Direct Provision Centre to be closed immediately and have vowed to continue their campaign until their demands are met.
The protest last Thursday came just a day after Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan apologised to the people of Cahersiveen for the handling of the opening of the Direct Provision Centre in the town. In The Kerryman last week the Minister took out a full-page advert apologising to the people of Kerry and to Cahersiveen for the “way in which we had to open the DP centre.”
However, his apology, which did not include the asylum seekers living at the centre, has been rejected by the local community and by those living at the centre See open letter from the residents and the local community, right].
Such was the anger and disappointment at the apology that the local community rallied on Thursday and took to the streets to protest and to call for the centre to be closed. They also called for the system of Direct
Provision to abolished. The local Cahersiveen Community and Business Alliance, along with the group Fáilte Cahersiveen and members of the community, joined the protest.
Cllr Norma Moriarty is also calling for further clarity on the situation that has unfolded in the town and, in particular, she is raising concerns about when decisions were made to open this centre. It had been claimed that it was only a last-minute decision by the Department of Justice, re-stated in the apology, but it has since emerged that discussions began in July last year.
She, along with part colleague and Mayor of Kerry Cllr Niall Kelleher, have raised the case with the Ombudsman.
Meanwhile, Cllr Michael Cahill (FF) has written to the Health and Safety Authority and other bodies seeking clarity on what he has described as the “biggest scandal” of his 30-year political career. Legal action is also being taken to close the centre, with preparations for an injunction underway.