Mattie McGrath demands calm debate on immigration impact
Mattie McGrath spoke on 31 Jan 2023 about immigration and its effects on rural communities, calling for a reasonable and calm debate and better information from ministers. He described concerns in Liz Moore in Conewater over repurposing of local buildings and urged the issue be discussed in the chamber.
Call for calm debate
McGrath said he and his colleagues in the rural independence have been asking for a reasonable and sincere debate about immigration and the strife it is causing in communities. He called for that debate to take place in the parliamentary chamber rather than being left unaddressed.
Community concerns in Liz Moore
He reported meeting people in Liz Moore, the lovely heritage town in Conewater, including "self-impried people, retired people, good people" who already have 35 and said they would not mind 120 more provided they were accommodated in old hospitals or buildings. Residents are worried about where new arrivals might be housed and want clear answers.
Buildings, tourism and rumours
McGrath highlighted local frustration that a renovated building promoted for tourism and as a hotel - referenced as promoted at the weekend with Fault Island - is now being repurposed. He also noted the recent closure of the old Bank of Ireland and rumours of it becoming a house centre, saying there is a lack of information for people.
Parliamentary scheduling and demand for transparency
He urged a better flow of information from the ministers in charge and said the matter needs proper discussion in the chamber. A respondent in the record said it is being scheduled in the coming weeks and was discussed at the business committee, indicating a parliamentary response is under way.
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I and my colleagues in the rural independence have been asking for a reasonable and calm debate and sincere debate about immigration here and the issues around it and the strife is causing in communities. Liz Moore, the lovely heritage town in Conewater, I met the people outside today, a number of people, self-impried people, retired people, good people, they already have 35, they have no problem with them and they don't mind 120 more coming if they go into the old hospitals closed down or some buildings. But the hotel, incidentally, they were up here promoting it at the weekend with Fault Island, promoting for tourism, to take over that which has been renovated for tourism, or a hotel for the town for every reason, and now this is happening. There is a lack of information for people. With the same care at the moment, the old Bank of Ireland recently closed, there is meant to be a house centre, rumours, and they are joining buildings. We want to have a debate in this chamber. The whole country is talking about it. We seem to be an echo chamber here, and we can't discuss it. We need a reasonable debate here, and we need a better flow of information to ourselves and the public, from the ministers in charge of this, to try and work together. Thank you. Antoine Ville Reilly Good morning. We are scheduling that in the coming weeks. We discussed at the business committee. Thank you.
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