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Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald in Dublin today. Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

McDonald defends letter by Sinn Féin TD warning of risk of 'conflict' between refugees and locals

Kildare South TD Patricia Ryan said conflict with host communities could be exploited by “small far-right elements”.

SINN FÉIN LEADER Mary Lou McDonald has defended a letter by one of the party’s TDs that warned of a risk of conflict between Ukrainian refugees and locals in south Kilare if the community did not receive support.

Kildare South TD Patricia Ryan wrote to constituents last month to advise them that modular homes were being developed in the area to house refugees who fled the war in Ukraine.

Ryan said that the site locations were “far from ideal” and were in areas with very significant social housing needs and homelessness rates, as well as pressure on health and education services.

“There is a concern that growing levels of homelessness and pending evictions in the areas where the modular units are being proposed could generate conflict. To avoid this the Department of Housing must accelerate social housing provision, including high grade modular homes,” Ryan wrote.

There is a concern that once in place there will be little by way of resourcing of community organisations in the area to assist in fostering good community relations and integrating the refugees into the wider community. 

The TD added: “If this process is not managed right and the views of locally based representatives are not listened to, the potential for significant conflict with host communities is significant, which in turn could be exploited by small far-right elements.”

Party leader Mary Lou McDonald said today that Ryan was trying to prevent a ‘them versus us’ mentality as new people join the community.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, McDonald said that there are concerns “in communities where there is a particular shortage of housing and communities where there are particular gaps in service provision”.

“I know what Patricia is addressing is the need to avoid a ‘them and us’. Let me be very clear, the lack of housing, no Ukrainian or Afghani or Syrian is responsible for that. Government is responsible for that, and similarly, for lack of services,” McDonald said.

“The reality is that there is potential for conflict on this point unless we have a radical change in terms of housing policy and a change in terms of investment in communities. That’s an open secret. I do not want that to happen.”

Ukrainian Independence Day 020 A march for Ukraine Independence Day on O'Connell St, Dublin Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

McDonald said there should not be a limit on the number of refugees fleeing Ukraine that Ireland protects.

“You can’t limit numbers when people are seeking asylum and fleeing for their lives, of course you have an obligation to afford international protection. We all know that,” she said.

“But what we also know is that we have a scenario for many because of many years of bad policy where we have a housing crisis and I think the only transparent way and respectful way for all concerned is for us to name that and for us to manage and navigate that.

“Certainly, in terms of the communities that Patricia represents, that certainly is what she was aiming to do so that there is a civil, civilised conversation so there’s an understanding everywhere that the newcomers to our shores, people fleeing war and running for their lives with their children, are certainly not the people to be blamed or have fingers pointed at them because of shortfalls in government policy and planning.”

The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that at least 47,962 Personal Public Service (PPS) numbers have been issued to individuals from Ukraine under the Temporary Protection Directive.

Last week, around 200 asylum seekers were left without accommodation in Ireland due to “lack of availability”.

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51 Comments
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    Mute Jules Lucas
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:48 PM

    The impact of this scandal has done wonders for the local village butcher, which we are better off buying our meat from anyway in my opinion!

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    Mute Christmas Carroll
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:56 PM

    Completely agree! Never mind the fact that at least you know what you’re getting is the real deal, it’s much healthier and tastes a hell of a lot better… Makes the extra money spent worth it!

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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:01 PM

    I agree. My local butcher is flying. He just bought a new car, he got rid of that old horse he used to go around on.

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    Mute Christmas Carroll
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:03 PM

    Dammit Figo :-P

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    Mute Dodge Challenger
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:53 PM

    Will this horse meat issue ever go away? It’s not that much of a big deal. Not to ruin any appetites but could you imagine the amount of little insects and other creatures that get minced in with the meat supply that we never know about.

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    Mute susanna smyth
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:56 PM

    Burgers are tested for horse meat only. What other nasty could be in there disguised as beef ?

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    Mute Bo11ocks_to_this
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:19 PM

    Did anyone else see the article from SA about water buffalo, horse and others found in beef. I’ll try find a link

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:15 PM

    A bit ironic that “Kanter” did the study eh?

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    Mute pat aherne
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:21 PM

    When we were starting our then 18 month on meat (2years ago) my wife decided to get supermarket burgers just in case he did not like them – well to tell you the truth he pretty much threw the burger back at her. I said why not try butcher meat it will taste alot better and healthier for the child. She got a 1/4 pounder and he ate 2/3 of it. Hence even an 18 month old knew the taste of quality !!

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    Mute clareo79
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    Mar 4th 2013, 2:07 PM

    You gave an 18 month old a burger?!

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    Mute mister
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:51 PM

    Interesting article. If I’m reading those stats correctly, does this indicate that ordinary local butchers have not experienced a bounce in trade? And if not, I wonder why?

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    Mute Hippocrateeth
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:57 PM

    In other news, the number of horses commuting on the Dart has risen by over 800% in the past week. Community watch locals report a growing number of incidences involving horses some described as having ‘brazen attitudes’ and ‘brass balls’ towards concerned travellers waiting on the platforms for their respective trains. In a more striking example of the intimidation by the footloose horses, a 6-pack box of Silverdale frozen burgers was kicked at an elderly man’s head causing the man to curse loudly at the ebullient edible equine. The man was later taken for questioning. A file has been sent to the office of the DPP and a request for legal aid has been sought.

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    Mute Dave Kavanagh
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:18 PM

    Great the media is loving this story and in doing so are systematically destroying one of Irelands core industries. Dont get me wrong I am totally for a free press but some of the sensationalism printed about this scandle (storm in a teacup) in relation to its connection with Ireland has been pure speculation and even when facts where established the Irish connection was still bigged up. Journal well done on being responsible and accurate if only other media would follow your example.

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    Mute Barry McSweeney
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    Mar 4th 2013, 3:22 PM

    If anyone is destroying one of Ireland’s core industries it is those who sold contaminated meat, the officials who refuse to admit that traceability “from farm to fork” is a lie, and the businessmen who refuse to speak publicly about what happened in their factories.
    Burying your head in the sand and “pulling on the green jersey” as you advocate will never work.

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    Mute АЛЕКСАНДРЪ ХАИШ
    Favourite АЛЕКСАНДРЪ ХАИШ
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    Mar 4th 2013, 5:47 PM

    Completely agree with you on this one, Dave!

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    Mute sid
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:07 PM

    @ dodge

    I figure its a very big deal , nobody has any idea where what horses were used, could have used anything to bolster up the weight

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    Mute АЛЕКСАНДРЪ ХАИШ
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    Mar 4th 2013, 5:21 PM

    “FSAI” IS STILL WORKING ON CONTAMINATED MEAT PRODUCTS ???, WHILE THERE IS POISONOUS MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS RAPIDLY SPREAD ACROSS IRELAND! Disgrace!

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