Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan has strongly criticised attempts by senior Government officials to “dismiss concerns” relating to “unsustainable levels of inward immigration” as the row over immigration continues to heat up. Nolan described the Government’s approach as a “policy of unrelenting arrogance that is inflaming a sense among ordinary people that they are being actively gaslit by their own political leaders.”
Separately, Labour TD Aodhán O’Ríordáin lambasted Mayo County Councillors as “disgraceful” for their decision to withdraw co-operation with the Government department overseeing accommodation for asylum seekers.
Disgraceful. Each single member.
History will judge you harshly.Some things more important than votes & elections. How many of these Cllrs have family members abroad?
Hypocrites. https://t.co/t2stATMS3L
— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (@AodhanORiordain) January 16, 2024
Laois-Offaly deputy Nolan remarked in a press release issued by her office that “Treating people as morons, racist or misinformed is no way to generate trust on immigration.”
Her comments came after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar set out his views on the state’s immigration policies in an article this weekend. The Taoiseach described the current policies as ‘firm and tough’ on those who arrive here illegally.
This followed remarks by Minister of State Neale Richmond, who said that talk about “documentation being ripped up” by those arriving here is “feeding into misplaced fears” and that this was. “It’s utter rubbish.”
As Gript previously reported, according to Department of Justice figures 5,070 people came to Ireland with either false or no documentation in 2022.
It was also recently reported by RTÉ that in 2023 3,285 arrived in Dublin “without a valid identity document”.
3,285 people arrived to Dublin Airport without a valid identity document in 2023, representing nearly 70% of all asylum applications made at the airport.
READ @MurphyPaule: https://t.co/Qd3PIt5qkr@rtenews | #rtept
— RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) January 12, 2024
Deputy Nolan continued her criticism of the government’s handling of the situation saying, “How are we going to address this issue with any kind of credibility if members of this Government continue to treat the vast majority of people as absolute fools?”
“They are acting and speaking as if they and they alone are possessed of some form of elite insight on these issues.” she said.
“In 2023 alone 7 in10 people arriving at Dublin Airport claimed asylum while having no passport or identifying documentation despite having boarded the plane while in possession of one. That fact alone highlights the sheer absurdity of minister Richmond’s attempt to describe the phenomenon as “rubbish.”
Deputy Nolan called for a “fact based and constructive debate” saying she had broken the “self-imposed parliamentary omerta” on the matter last year during her debate with Minister Darragh O’Brien.”
“Since then, however, government members have pursued with incomprehensible zealotry the quite frankly bizarre policy of telling people that they are essentially either morons, racist or misinformed whenever they raise concerns.” she said, adding “What has that led to except an ever-deepening level of polarisation and an erosion of the ability to generate trust?”
Deputy Nolan continued her comments saying, “The fact is that the resources of the state are now thoroughly overwhelmed in terms of the provision of accommodation; a situation that is being exacerbated by thousands of people arriving here annually which shows no sign of slowing down.”
“It is beyond incredible that I, and members of the Oireachtas who share my concerns, must plead for honesty and realism from our own Government.”
She concluded saying, “The policy of psychological and political manipulation has failed. Everyone can see that it has failed with the exception of Government,”