Tipperary TD, Mattie McGrath has hit out at what he described as “highly paid NGOs” who he said were “running amok” while “lecturing” people in regard to immigration. He also accused them of treating Irish people like “second-class citizens”.
Speaking in the Dáíl, the Independent TD said that a “major review” was required in regard to how immigration was “being handled”.
Referring to East Wall and “many other areas of the country”, Deputy McGrath said the Irish people were a people of “cead míle fáilte and 1,000 welcomes.”
“However, when one sees busloads of young men arriving in an area in the dead of night and being put into industrial buildings, which we see happening in different parts of the country, we need a proper debate and a proper understanding,” he said.
Mattie McGrath questions the government on its approach to moving asylum seekers into communities such as East Wall, with response from Roderic O'Gorman. pic.twitter.com/Dzx8RWr8Lw
— JRD (@JRD0000) November 30, 2022
“We must listen to communities and not have the head of an NGO for dealing with refugees lecturing the community as to what they should do and how they should behave. This has gotten out of hand. We need a major review of how this is being handled. The Taoiseach said that there should be consultation in spite of what these NGOs said,” he added.
“These highly paid NGOs cost nearly €6 billion per year. They are running amok in this country and are treating the people like second-class citizens. We need proper legislation on this. We cannot just sustain this.”
“It is causing strife and angst to everybody. We are trying to help people who are in a war, but these people are not from Ukraine.”
Minister Roderic O’Gorman said in response: “As a country, we are providing accommodation to 64,000 people right now, many of whom are from Ukraine. These are men, women and children who are fleeing the war there. However, over 17,000 are men, women and children who are fleeing wars elsewhere. Ukraine is not the only war on our planet right now.”