The president of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, has condemned the government for their perceived lack of consultation with Coolock inhabitants regarding the proposed location of an international protection centre within their vicinity. In a letter addressed to Taoiseach Simon Harris, McDonald expressed her disbelief that no discourse had taken place with the Coolock community, contradicting previous assertions, and willingly offered to collaborate with him in resolving the ongoing standstill.
Government plans to place an undetermined number of asylum seekers in Coolock’s former Crown Paints factory, has incited a harsh public backlash resulting in violent incidents, demonstrations and on Friday night, multiple injuries to the gardaí and the initiation of two fires.
McDonald criticised the government’s inability to engage with residents, stating it was a display of disrespect and arrogance towards a community that has been consistently overlooked and abandoned. She emphasised the adverse effects of this lack of communication, suggesting it has catalysed anger and facilitated the spread of fear and misinformation. McDonald insisted upon immediate rectification, emphasising that community interaction should focus on respect, resources and support, rather than mere approval.
McDonald further elaborated upon the local community’s grievances, claiming facilities for the community, education, sport and youth in the area have been severely financing deprived and locals have been unfairly misled by empty promises made by past governments.
She reiterated these sentiments following meetings with community groups within Coolock, where alleged feelings of deep-seated anger and frustration were repeatedly revealed. McDonald encouraged the government to initiate a form of dialogue with the Coolock community via appropriate mediators. While not specifying who such mediators should be, McDonald expressed her faith that the community in Coolock would respond favourably and constructively to genuine communication and engagement, describing them as a proud and decent community deserving to have their voices heard.
Last week, the head of Sinn Féin conceded that the party had seriously misjudged the topic of immigration, a mistake that was evident from their disappointing outcome in the local elections, tallying a mere 11.8 per cent of the vote.
Post the last Saturday’s Ard Comhairle conference, Ms McDonald acknowledged that they had failed to fully recognise the worries of various individuals from working-class communities over immigration issues.
She stated that ignoring these concerns was an error, as they were either neglected or labelled inappropriately. She suggested that it’s time to move beyond such dismissive attitudes.
She pointed out that they are representatives of a multitude of communities that have been enduring a constant struggle over generations due to a lack of prospects and inadequate service provision – a stark reality.
She emphasized the need to establish a system that strongly opposes racism, upholds the rights of all individuals to be treated with respect and equality, and also insists that the immigration system should be both efficient and fair.