Mayo candidate to hold public meeting on immigration following EU ruling

Mayo local election candidate Paul Lawless is holding a public meeting, organised in conjunction with a number of locals who are very concerned with the government’s immigration plans for Ballinrobe.

The meeting will take place in the Maple Youth Centre, Bowgate Street, Ballinrobe, on Monday, April 22, at 8 p.m.

Aontú representative Paul Lawless stated: "The people of Ballinrobe were treated despicably during the recent Gannon’s protest.

"The people were deserted and called names by the Government parties.

"Councillors initially supported the demonstration but quickly retreated into hiding when party leadership called them to toe the party line.

"Mayo TDs also went into hiding and could not be contable during the demonstration.

"The location that was earmarked by the government to house exclusively adult male immigrants was far from ideal.

"It was located next to a creche with the smoking area, overlooking a children's nursery.

"Considering the government's poor vetting procedure in these cases parents and locals were within their right to feel worried.

"Instead of answers the locals were subjected to condescension and name calling by politicians.

"The locals who lobbied and protested did get partial vindication when the government announced they would no longer use the facility to house solely adult men.

"The meeting is very timely as the European Union has just passed the EU Migration Pact."

Aontú leader and Midlands North West EU candidate Peadar Tóibín has welcomed what he called “the late arrival of the political establishment to the debate on immigration”.

He also stated that “ceding the power to control immigration into Ireland to Brussels was a serious mistake."

Deputy Tóibín elaborated: “It's good news that the establishment parties are now finally able to talk about immigration.

"Up to a few months ago these same parties sought to stifle and censor respectful debate by the people on this issue.

"Yesterday the new Taoiseach, Simon Harris, stated he is fully committed to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Yet today all his TDs are making the argument why the Irish people should give up sovereignty on another key issue to the EU.

"We know from our history that when it comes to the crunch, as in the banking debt crisis just over 10 years ago, the EU will not make decisions in Ireland’s interest. That is why we need to be sure that we have the right to decide our own law on important issues.

“Yet at the heart of the EU Migration Pact is a sovereignty swap.

"The Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (RAMM) will see the EU determine the numbers of immigrants that Ireland must accept or the amount of money we must pay in lieu of not accepting people into the country.

"GDP along with population will be used to determine the number of people that Ireland must accept.

"Everyone knows that Ireland’s GDP is massively inflated due to FDI companies locating here for tax purposes.

"Numbers will have to be accepted or funds will have to be paid, irrespective of government budget balances, the level of homelessness, pressure of health, education or transport.

“There are time-frames within the pact for the processing of asylum applications.

"But time frames are determined, in the main on the resources provided to process applications.

"There is nothing stopping the Irish government providing these resources now.

"There is nothing stopping the Irish government implementing what is positive in these provisions without ceding sovereignty to unelected EU officials who are not accountable to Ireland. We do have the right to opt out.

“Aontú has always sought a system based on compassion and common sense.

"This government has opposed common sense at every turn to date."

According to Aontú Parliamentary questions (PQs) 75% of all applicants for asylum are not even asked how they came into the country.

Added Deputy Tóibín: "The government does not even know how many people are smuggled, trafficked or are coming across the border with the north of Ireland.

"Of the 5,000 people who received a deportation order in the last five years, only 15% of those deportation orders were ever actioned.

"The government does not know where the other 85% are. It was Aontú who raised over and over again the fact that 5,000 people came through Dublin Airport without travel documents last year and it's only now that the government has decided to implement the law with one of these people seeing the inside of a court."