A north Leitrim Councillor is calling on Community Engagement teams that are tasked with providing information to communities where asylum seekers are to be accommodated, to ‘up their game’.
Independent Councillor Felim Gurn says a recent meeting where such a group were alleged to have ‘dedicated’ their wishes to local community representatives in Dromahair was counter-productive.
The Manorhamilton based Councillor says lessons are not being learned from other areas in the Country where a lack of communication and consultation has led to criminal damage being carried out at locations earmarked for housing those seeking international protection.
Cllr Gurn says that placing more people in areas that has not the required infrastructure to support them is adding to the frustration.
Meanwhile President Michael D Higgins has expressed his “gratitude to the migrants who now call Ireland their home.”
He today released his annual Christmas message and says their “presence enriches our culture and contributes to our society.”
President Higgins says our most significant resolution must be a collective commitment to succeed in the “value-laden tasks where our previous efforts may have fallen short”.
The Taoiseach says the Government will make a decision on whether it will ‘opt-in’ or ‘opt-out’ of new EU asylum laws in the New Year.
The European Union reached an agreement yesterday to reform asylum, which it’s hoped will allow more co-operation between members states when managing arrivals into the bloc.
Reforms include speedier vetting of irregular arrivals, creating border detention centres, and accelerated deportation for rejected asylum applicants.
Those opposed to hosting asylum seekers would be required to pay those that do, and Leo Varadkar says the Government will have a decision to make in the weeks ahead.
