TD shouted down for raising public concerns about immigration in the Irish Parliament after Dublin riots.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 Recently in the Dáil Thaoibh Taoiseach I addressed you in relation to the resentment that is simmering in towns and villages across Ireland.
00:07 This genuine and heartfelt anger is not coming from organised factions, it is coming from ordinary people.
00:14 People are filled with pent-up worry, fear and frustration at how their communities have changed due to the influx of international protection applicants.
00:23 It has reached a stage where people fear the Department will target every vacant building in their communities.
00:37 I want to say that Irish people, and I, are not racist. They have welcomed, and I have welcomed, the victims of the war in Ukraine with open arms.
00:47 They have willingly opened their hearts to those in need. But, Taoiseach, I do believe it is time to modify and to rebalance our immigration policy.
00:56 I think it is important to say, though, that people who come to Ireland to seek international protection are not necessarily here illegally.
01:06 Under our laws, people can seek international protection in Ireland, and their status only becomes illegal when their application has been refused and a deportation issued.
01:15 I think it is important that people do not conflate those seeking international protection with people who are here illegally. It is not actually the same thing.
01:24 Just in relation to what the Deputy said about people's concerns, I absolutely understand and appreciate those concerns.
01:32 I know them from my constituency, I know them from around the country.
01:35 When a large number of people, from any background, are accommodated in your parish, in your town, in your village,
01:41 of course you are going to have concerns about what the impacts are going to be in relation to education, in relation to law and order, in relation to health.
01:49 And yes, we need to respond to that.