Deere says 'continual abuse' will not change his support for refugees

A FINE Gael councillor who claims he is continually abused for his support of refugees and asylum seekers around Castlebar says he will not change his stance even if it means he will lose votes.

Castlebar-based councillor Ger Deere was heckled by some members of the public at Monday's meeting of Mayo County Council when he spoke out against what he saw as misinformation being spread about refugees and asylum seekers during a debate on the motion to withdraw council co-operation with the Department responsible for refugee accommodation.

Cllr Deere told The Mayo News said he was not surprised by the heckling at the meeting as he has been at the receiving end of abuse for the last year because of his work through Tidy Towns to integrate refugees and asylum seeking living around Castlebar into the community.

“For over a year and half I am getting continual abuse about my involvement through the Tidy Towns with the refugees and asylum seekers. I got associated with them through the Breaffy Community Council whose template to integrate the refugees and asylum seekers into the area is working very well.

“As I said the last day [at the meeting] we had 57 out litter picking and we have a huge amount of them out every week and they are making a huge impact. Myself and some of the officers of the Tidy Towns have got abuse in the last year and half because of our stance of working with refugees. But a lot of these people who are abusing us never lifted a bit of litter or anything positive in the community.

“I have put up with a lot of abuse but to be honest with you I don't care... I am doing what is right. These people are here and will be here for a long time and we want to integrate them into the community. If I was to change my stance on this for the sake of getting votes or populism I would not be true to myself. I won't change my stance on it. If I lose loads of votes and don't get elected the next time, well my conscience will be very clear in that I tried to help these people and I won't be changing that,” he said.

Council Motion 'disappointing'

On Monday, Mayo County Council passed a cross party motion which stated that 'all co-operation ceases immediately, between the staff of Mayo County Council and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of Ireland, until such time as an agreed strategy is put in place to properly coordinate the provision of additional services for the communities hosting refugees and international protection applicants'.

Cllr Deere said he was disappointed in the motion describing it as 'opportunist and populist' and in hindsight he felt he should have voted against it. He said that there was a lot of misinformation spoken during the debate which is not helpful.

“It was rushed through without much thought and a proper discussion amongst ourselves. I feel we are throwing the refugees under the bus and blaming them for everything and we should have stood back a little bit. There are definitely issues that need sorting out with the lack of services but there were problems before refugees with the lack of services. To throw all the blame on them was not right.

“They [refugees and asylum seekers] are very worried about the hostility and they feel they are being blamed for everything and are on edge about the whole thing. What I tried to get across the last day is that there is a lot of misinformation that refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to social welfare and social housing when they are not. They are different from the Ukrainians but there is a narrative out there that they are getting loads of social welfare and houses. They are not entitled to be on the housing list until they are a resident the same as anyone else.

“The Government needs a proper campaign about the whole process that is in place when refugees and asylum seekers come into the country and what they are entitled to and not entitled to. There is total misinformation which feeds into the narrative that they are a drain on services and sponging off the state which is not true at all,” he said.

Cllr Deere explained that having spoken to a number of the refugees and asylum seekers staying in Breaffy, the vast majority want to get involved and make a contribution to the local community. He has called on the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys to allow them to participate in schemes and put the skills they have to good use.

“While they are waiting on their work permits to come out they should be allowed to go on schemes through tidy towns and community development companies. They have skills and we should find out what skills they have and get them involved in the community. Think of the benefit they would be to the area besides saying they are a drain or they should not be around the place.

“All they are looking for is to be given a chance. Naturally you are going to have people who will cause trouble but by and large the people I have met are lovely people. They have come from unbelievable circumstances and if you would sit down with them and see what they have come through then maybe people's minds might change. They are human beings and they deserve a chance.”

Castlemacgarrett House

Meanwhile, Chief Executive of Mayo County Council, Kevin Kelly, has responded to questions from councillors from Monday's meeting regarding properties where refugees may be staying. The councillors asked for answers regarding rumours accommodation was to be provided in Castlemacgarrett House, Claremorris as well as the old Eircom building in Claremorris and in the N5 Business Park in Castlebar.

With respect to Castlemacgarrett House, Mr Kelly said that the council were trying to make contact with the owner but the property may be exempted for planning permission.

“In respect of Castlemacgarrett House, Claremorris, it is not clear what if any works have been carried out at the property as it has not yet been accessed.

“During a recent visit the gates to Castlemacgarrett were closed with no entry signs in place and the driveway did not have the appearance of regular use by construction traffic.

“The reputed owners are being contacted to provide access to the property but, depending on the detailed information, there may be works undertaken under an exemption that would not be actionable.

“It is understood that this property has been recently offered for the accommodation of Ukrainian refugees within the buildings.

“It would appear that the planning exemption that is available to assist in the accommodation of refugees is available in respect of a protected structure as there does not appear to be any specific limitation or exclusion provided for.

“Once further and definitive detail is acquired on what is proposed and what works, if any , have been carried out, full consideration of the applicability of the relevant planning exemption can be undertaken,” he told councillors.

Mr Kelly confirmed that he understands that the former Eircom building at Convent Road, Claremorris, has been recently offered as accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.

However, he said that despite speculation on social media about the N5 Business Park, there has been no suggestion that further buildings have been offered for refugee accommodation.

“The elected members will be aware that any contractual arrangements in respect of the provision of accommodation are between the relevant property owner and the Department of Integration or IPAS as appropriate and further information is not available in respect of same,” he added.