Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

For the past 200 years Irish people have travelled all over the world. They have moved to Australia, the United States of America, England and Canada. Personally I have friends and family members who have built lives in these countries. In some cases they were welcomed with open arms but in others they fought racism and prejudice. "No Irish, no Blacks, no dogs". Unfortunately we all know the saying well. It is wrong and we know how Irish people felt when they met that hatred and prejudice. Irish people have enriched many countries and communities and helped to build those communities and countries. On our island we have also welcomed people who have enriched our country and our communities. Diversity has strengthened my GAA club, St. Vincent's GAA club. Children all over the world are having fun playing our national games. Is that not great? They are building lifelong friendships and communities.

We are now faced with an asylum crisis the likes of which we have never seen before. People are being forced to flee the wars in Ukraine, Palestine, Afghanistan and Syria and to seek refuge here. We must give them that refuge. As other countries have done for our people, we must now do. I commend the work being done by many groups in our communities, such as the GAA, other sporting organisations and clubs, Nasc in Cork, Meitheal Mara, Cork Life Centre, Cork Penny Dinners, our schools and many more. People are working to open their arms and communities to those who need help and support.

The Minister has often heard me come into this Chamber to talk about the neglect of the northside of Cork. The reality is that communities like the one I am from in Knocknaheeny and Gurranabraher have been abandoned by the Government for far too long. The Government has overlooked the needs and ignored the cries of communities for supports, housing and healthcare. For example, there is a lovely community in Ballyvolane on the northside of Cork city in my constituency. It has no community centre, no primary care centre, no post office, no park and ride facilities and I could go on. The youth clubs and community groups there are at full capacity all the time. The Government is to blame for not putting in the services and supports for this community and many other communities like it. When vulnerable people blame vulnerable people, the only winners are those at the top because when people look sideways, the Government is let off the hook.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael must acknowledge their failings and work with communities. They must communicate with communities and provide the support and services needed as we should not be pitching one group of vulnerable people against another. I am proud to be from the northside of Cork. I am proud to be from Cork and to be Irish. I am a proud republican. I will not stand to have our nationalist identity used by those who sow hate in our communities. I spent 13 years campaigning on housing, against homelessness and for community services in Cork. Those who suddenly claim to care about our homeless people did not stand with me during those campaigns. They are now using the housing crisis, the crisis in healthcare and the cost of living to further their hateful agendas and I will not allow it.

There are rumours that a prominent English fascist will visit Cork in the coming days. I am sending out a clear message as a Deputy for Cork North-Central and a proud Corkman, that there is no place on the streets for this man or for anyone who holds his beliefs. Do not allow him to fool you. He once said "I've never felt a connection to Ireland or felt Irish". He has supported soldiers who murdered innocent Irish men and women on the streets on Bloody Sunday. He does not care about our communities. He does not care about Ireland. He cares about spreading his disgusting hate. We are better than that. We should be fighting for a new Government that puts people and communities first. We should be fighting against those who want to divide us. Instead we want to fight against those who would stop change. Thomas Davis once said:

If you're to Ireland true,

We heed not race, nor creed, nor clan,

We've hearts and hands for you.

That is what republicanism is. It is what we stand for. It is a message we want to bring to our communities because we believe that by working together and supporting each other we will welcome these refugees.

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