Killarney asylum accommodation
Deputy Healy-Rae raised local opposition in Killarney to housing 77 more asylum seekers at the Harmony Inn and asked that the Minister visit. The Minister strongly rejected the safety implications as a dog-whistle and said he and the Deputy had very different views.
Over 300 residents of Killarney convened a meeting on Sunday night. They are very concerned about the placement of 77 more asylum seekers very close to them in Harmony Inn on the Muckross Road. They want the decision in this regard to be reversed because there is a lack of surety as regards safety and services in the town of Killarney in light of the number of asylum seekers and refugees being placed there. We seem to be taking way more than our share in Killarney. The matter of vetting is very important to the people of Killarney. Where are these people coming from? The people of Killarney want to know who is coming in beside them, where they are from and how many different countries they are coming from. We had trouble earlier in the year on the other side of town, and these people are concerned. Old and young people, especially women, are fearing for their safety with this number of people being placed beside them in the town of Killarney.
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I am also asking publicly in this Chamber that the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, go down to Killarney and meet the residents. I have been asked to relay that message in the House.
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I am going to have to bite my lip because I think that, in many ways, some of those comments are a dog-whistle. I would love to know what the Deputy thinks people are fearing in terms of their safety-----
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-----and what people's nationality has to do with their safety. The Deputy and I have a very different outlook on this matter, and I would imagine a majority of people in County Kerry do too.