Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

People's confidence in the Government's handling of migration was low before they learned that newly-arrived asylum seekers to Ireland were escaping deportation from the UK to Rwanda. It was a shocking and worrying revelation that raises serious questions. People immediately wanted to know how suddenly this detailed information had become available. How do we determine the number of secondary arrivals from the UK? What will be the process of tracking and detecting arrivals from the UK? How long has this exodus from the UK to Ireland been going on? Where are these people originally from and where are they currently located in this country? Did they originally arrive illegally in the UK? Have they been vetted? Have they been health screened and, crucially, what is the actual number we are talking about? We are talking about percentages for the past number of days. What are the numbers we are talking about? No-one in this country seems to understand the procedures and outcomes of a convoluted asylum vetting system. We do know that the system is broken. We do not have a proper asylum system. People have become increasingly wary and suspicious of matters surrounding migration, which has become one of the biggest issues of recent times. It is an issue that impacts everyone in some way, whether it is in the fact that our health services cannot cope with our significantly increased population, or that communities are seeing vital amenities such as hotels and former nursing homes used to house new arrivals into the country. Public unease is such that vacant properties in every part of the country are now closely watched. People are questioning property owners and public representatives about plans for the use of such premises. Every suspicion is investigated.

This is the situation across our country at present and the Government only has itself to blame. The Government's lack of transparency is a major issue but the lack of engagement with local people has been and will continue to be the straw that breaks public trust. Communities across the country, including in my own constituency have sought information from the Department without receiving even the courtesy of an acknowledgement. Information, if it is forthcoming through public representatives, is sparse and generic. People whose families have lived in towns for generations have not only been denied information, they have been rudely dismissed as though their opinions do not matter. Without actually hearing the words, people are being told to shut up and put up with Government decisions. Regardless of whether there are adequate vital services in place to meet the needs of the existing local community, the Government will jump on any opportunity that becomes available to house asylum seekers. I forewarned that Roscrea town in County Tipperary was overburdened and had accepted its fair share. My concerns and those of the community were ignored and dismissed, leading to public unrest. A similar situation is emerging in nearby Rathcabbin, where a nursing home that struggled to survive due to a lack of Government support is now earmarked for asylum seekers. It was conveyed to the local community that the former nursing home would accommodate Ukrainian refugees. Local organisations rallied and offered welcome and support. That trust was suddenly shattered as the Department has reneged and now proposes to house IPAS applicants. This kind of deceitful communication breaches any accepted standard. It is totally unsatisfactory and has alienated the community. Refusing to engage with local people in an honest and open manner creates suspicion and resentment. Suspicion fosters fear and it is this fear that results in the growing number of protests. Communities are entitled to protest about legitimate concerns.

Unfortunately, some peaceful protests are hijacked and fuelled by organised groups of antagonists.

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