Public meeting in South Mayo 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 8pm.

Aontú representative Paul Lawless stated the "people of Ballinrobe were treated despicably during the recent Gannon’s protest" and there was discontentment. 

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

Mr Lawless said councillors initially supported the demonstration but "quickly retreated into hiding" when party leadership called them to toe the party line. 

The election candidate also claimed "Mayo TDs also went into hiding" during the demonstration.

"The location that was earmarked by the Government to house exclusively adult male immigrants was far from ideal," he said. "It was located next to a creche with the smoking area, overlooking a childrens nursery."

Mr Lawless stated 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.

"Considering the government's poor vetting procedure in these cases parents and locals were within their right to feel worried," he said. "Instead of answers the locals were subjected to condescension and name calling by politicians.

Mr Lawless said the upcoming 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” and error of judgement.

“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," he added.

Deputy Tóibín stated on Wednesday Taoiseach, Simon Harris stated he was 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," he said. "That is why we need to be sure that we have the right to decide our own law on important issues."

Deputy Tóibín has stated at the "heart of the EU Migration Pact is a sovereignty swap" and claimed it will see Ireland lose more say and control over asylum seeker arrivals here.

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