The Irish Government – a coalition of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Greens – has created a crisis in housing and public services. They have refused to plan and instead have handed millions in taxpayers’ hard-earned money to the private sector to sort out government failings. It has not worked and has only expanded the profits of development and landlords.
The same chaos has played out for the systems of processing those fleeing war and seeking asylum in the south of Ireland. The government has sought to move homeless asylum seekers into unfit accommodations in communities that are already lacking services.
Today Sinn Féin has launched a plan to fix the broken international protection system: a plan for a fair and humane system that recognises both the pressures that many communities are under and the needs of those seeking international protection.
A plan with clear rules that must be applied, that is efficient, and that makes decisions quickly. A plan that works with communities and only locates centers in areas with the capacity and services to support them.
Speaking about the process of locating centres at today’s launch, Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald said, “We are talking about respectful conversations with the community. That has not been happening. We are talking about a process that would involve a local audit. That has to be at the heart of this approach. For all of this to work, and it has to work, the issue of social cohesion and public confidence is vital. Some communities have been left behind for generations.
“As Irish republicans and a party of the left, the plan is rooted in our values of equality, anti-racism, and human rights, and stands firmly with working-class communities who have been neglected and forgotten for generations.”
The parties of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael created this crisis. Only a Sinn Féin government can solve it by building accommodation, investing in public services and an immigration system that works and respects the rights of all.
We encourage you to read our plan at www.sinnfein.ie.
