Mattie McGrath: Accuses Government of Forcing Asylum Seekers into Hotels
Mattie McGrath spoke in the 33rd Dáil to thank staff and to criticise the government’s use of hotels to house asylum seekers, arguing there was no consultation and that local economies were being harmed. He named specific hotels in Tipperary and called the practice a denial of the will of the people.
McGrath opened by offering heartfelt thanks on behalf of the Royal Independence to Dáil staff, front gate personnel, OSHAs, cleaners, the secretary, the printers and the Gardaí for their assistance and for looking after members.
He listed hotels affected in Tipperary including Racket Hall in Dundrum, Roscray, Dundrum House Hotel, the Enhance Hotel in Clonmel, and Kilcone Lodge Hotel in Cair, saying the use of such hotels for accommodation was damaging local tourism and the economy.
McGrath accused the government and the Tánaiste of forcing IPAS persons into hotels "against the will of the people" with "no consultation, none whatsoever," and said this amounted to dividing the community and flying in the face of democracy.
He criticised costs and priorities, referencing modular units in Clonmel and arguing that spending on such units had not solved homelessness — saying the State could not house "the 15,000 homeless" while these decisions were being made.
In response, the Tánaiste acknowledged Tipperary as a "most noble county" and said the government does not want hotels in town centres to be used for housing asylum seekers in future, and that the State is working to create state-owned facilities and accommodation for those seeking asylum.
Opening remarks and thanks
McGrath opened by offering heartfelt thanks on behalf of the Royal Independence to Dáil staff, front gate personnel, OSHAs, cleaners, the secretary, the printers and the Gardaí for their assistance and for looking after members.
Hotels named and local impact
He listed hotels affected in Tipperary including Racket Hall in Dundrum, Roscray, Dundrum House Hotel, the Enhance Hotel in Clonmel, and Kilcone Lodge Hotel in Cair, saying the use of such hotels for accommodation was damaging local tourism and the economy.
Consultation and democratic concerns
McGrath accused the government and the Tánaiste of forcing IPAS persons into hotels "against the will of the people" with "no consultation, none whatsoever," and said this amounted to dividing the community and flying in the face of democracy.
Modular units and homelessness criticism
He criticised costs and priorities, referencing modular units in Clonmel and arguing that spending on such units had not solved homelessness — saying the State could not house "the 15,000 homeless" while these decisions were being made.
Government response on future policy
In response, the Tánaiste acknowledged Tipperary as a "most noble county" and said the government does not want hotels in town centres to be used for housing asylum seekers in future, and that the State is working to create state-owned facilities and accommodation for those seeking asylum.
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Transcript
I wanted to, on behalf, on behalf of the Royal Independence, extend a gratitude and thanks to yourself, and all the staff from the, as I said, the front gate we meet to come in to staff, the OSHAs especially, the cleaners, everybody, and the secretary, the printers, everybody, and the Gardaí for looking after us here so well. In the 33rd Dáil, and I wanted that to be heartfelt thanks. Tarnishtah, what have towns like, hotels like Racket Hall in Dundrum, in Roscray, Dundrum House Hotel, and the Enhance Hotel in Clonmel, and now Kilcone Lodge Hotel, a beautiful hotel in Cair, right in vain, right down to the centre of Tipperary. The British had a policy of divide and conquer, but you're dividing and conquering the people now, because you're dividing the people. You're forced, against the will of the people, with no consultation, IPAS persons, into these hotels. Stop them trading against hotels. It's damaging our economy hugely, but also the fact there's no consultation, none whatsoever, and the will of the people has been denied. They'll have a chance to reflect on what you've done, Tim, in three weeks' time, but I think it's shameful, the way Tipperary has been treated, and a noble county, and these noble business people, and the good people who have done Dundrum, are still at the gates, and will remain there, because they haven't been consulted, and this flying in the face of democracy, who's been 446,000, on a modular units in Clonmel, which should cost 70, and you can't house the 15,000 homeless. It's a shame on your legacy. First of all, I agree Tipperary is a most noble county, and a beautiful county, but on the specific issue that you referenced, the government has taken a position that it doesn't, in the future, it doesn't want hotels to be used, particularly hotels in towns that are a vital piece of the tourism infrastructure to be used for the purposes of housing asylum seekers, and we're endeavouring to create state-owned facilities and accommodation to deal with those coming in seeking asylum in the country, because it is acknowledged that the use of hotels in the core part of towns can be detrimental to the economic and tourism development of towns, and that is something that I believe in, and it's notwithstanding all of the challenges that are coming our way in respect of this issue, and there will be other broader policy issues required as well. Deputy John Carr. Deputy John Carlton of the Yustaq of Yustaq of Yustaq of Yustaq of Yustaq of Yustaq