Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I believe Ireland has been a decent and welcoming country for many years and has given kindly to the people across the world, no better than any place in the world. Personally, I believe we have opened the gates here too far and have taken the hinges off the gates and doors in this country. We have situations where people are sleeping rough. We have been saying for the last number of months in this Dáil that maybe we should have controlled the numbers coming into our country in order that we can look after those who do come into this country properly and that has not been the case.

I thank the Minister of State and his private secretary for their help over the last few days with the situation we had in Church Cross in Skibbereen. I will quite willingly and openly speak about that. The people of Church Cross, Aughadown and Kilcoe are the finest and most decent people one could ever meet in all one's life. However, a small nursing home closed down there after being bought by a developer into which refugees were being placed. They did not know whether it was five, ten, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40 people and they sought information. In fairness, any time I texted the Minister of State, he responded. He might not have been able to give me the exact details, but he tried his best and I accept that. I always commend anybody who does that. It is very unfair on the community, however. They said they will be labelled racists or this and that. They had concerns and needed to have them addressed. There was not even a footpath outside of that building never mind a shop or any other facility. They wanted to know what was happening. The only information I could get on Friday night was from the developer himself. Obviously, people will say he has a vested interest. In fairness, however, I got much information from the Minister of State's private secretary yesterday evening before our second meeting and we were able to bring a bit of understanding to the whole matter. Obviously, people need further clarity. I commend the people there for having this meeting and opening up the engagement with the Minister of State. Surely be to God, however, the public representatives must know what is going on. If I do not know what is going on, how many more people will be in the same situation? Matters will get worse and worse if these things are not nipped in the bud.

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