Locals in Sallins say that they believe Irish people are “being bullied and ignored” by the government who are “operating by stealth” to open migrant centres in areas where “unvetted men are being brought into communities” where “people are fearful”.
That was the message from local women Sarah O’Donnell who joined up to 100 others in the Kildare village this evening after news broke that a hotel in the area could become a venue for some of the thousands of people now arriving in Ireland claiming to seek asylum.
The protest started at the traffic lights near the Railway Inn pub before proceeding to The Waterways, where the accommodation centre is believed to be planned.
Ms O’Donnell said that “what was happening here in Sallins is now happening everywhere and people are very angry and very upset.”
“It was the same in Cavan last week, the same in Inch in [Co] Clare, the same in East Wall, the same in Mullingar, I could go on and on. The government know people don’t want these centres forced in on top of local areas – we don’t know who these men are, lots of them don’t have passports – and we are meant to just shut up and do what we’re told.”
“We’re in the majority, but the government is just ignoring us, completely ignoring us and our concerns, and people are just not going to take this anymore,” she said.
“I was talking to the other women here and we’re not having a situation where we don’t feel safe walking around our own village and we don’t feel our daughters are safe. Most of these men are coming from places that are safe, they’re not being honest, they are not being truthful from the start about why they are here and who they are. We are being treated like dirt by our own politicians,” she said.
“The arrogance of Roderic O’Gorman is unbelievable,” she said. “His department told that TD in Cavan that they were powerless to stop this, that the bus with migrants was on its way and they just had to accept it. Well we don’t and we won’t,” she said.
“We don’t care if the media call us names either,” the local mum added. “Most people agree with us, we’re all sick of being told we have to accept this situation which is dangerous and unsustainable. Bringing thousands of people here in a housing crisis, no doctors for them, no services, its madness.”
As reported on Gript this week, Niamh Smyth, local TD for Cavan who rang asking that local people would be consulted was told by an official from the Department of Integration that ‘this is happening’ and ‘there’s nothing further to discuss’.
Niamh Smyth TD paraphrased the official’s response to an Anglo Celt reporter as: No, this is happening if it has not happened already, the bus is on its way and there’s nothing further to discuss here. I’ll send two officials to speak with you next week.
In Sallins, local TD James Lawless told constituents in Kildare that the hotel was being considered for the provision of accommodation services for persons who were claiming asylum – who are a distinct group from Ukrainian refugees.
However, the protesters were scathing regarding Deputy Lawless and his ability to deal with the issue.
“He’s wringing his hands now and making out that the people need to be consulted but its his government who is doing this, so it just feels like a pretence,” Ms O’Donnell said. “It just feels like we’re being played. If he really wants to do something, stop the migrant centre”.
In a statement to constituents, Deputy Lawless said: “These accommodation centres are arranged directly between the Department of Integration and property owners via a public tender process – TDs and Councillors are not a part of that process. However I understand people will look to their public representatives for information and guidance and I am working intensively to gather and provide as much of that as possible.”
He shared the response of Minister Roderic O’Gorman on the issue who said: “Waterways Hotel, Sallins, Co. Kildare, was offered to the Department through its Request for Tender (RFT) for “Bespoke Panel Agreement for the Provision of Accommodation Services and Related Services for Persons Seeking International Protection” which was published in the fourth quarter of 2022.”
“The Department is now in the process of signing a contract with the Tenderer.”
“The property will be providing 56 double and twin rooms. It is expected that this property will be available for occupation, following carrying out of mobilisation works, by year end.”
SALLINS SAYS NO
Amongst the messages at the of the participants carried placards reading “Sallins Says No”, “Keep Sallins Safe”, and “Sallins Says No To Unvetted Men.”
“We are dealing with enough crises in our own country. My fear is that they (people who may arrive) are unvetted. Our safety cannot be guaranteed by the gardaí,” said local woman Ciara Timmons told Kildare Now.