Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I do not wish to be parochial but, in the case of rural Ireland and a rural county like Wexford where I come from, we have to join the dots. The protest that is occurring in County Clare is due to a build-up of anxiety in communities regarding the impact of housing our refugees and asylum seekers, without a doubt. Everybody is wondering whether there will be a job for students coming home from college who cannot drive because they have not been able to get a driving test to get a full licence and need somebody with them. Their only hope of work is in their local community. If those businesses are not supported to stay afloat, and the provision of employment for our students coming back to rural Ireland for the summer months is not there, a whole lot more unrest will be seen. That is why it is very significant and important that we engage with communities and support them through this process. The war was not caused by rural Ireland.

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