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Irish anti-immigration protests (2022–present)

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2022–present Irish anti-immigration protests
Part of Opposition to immigration in the Republic of Ireland and the 2022 Ukrainian refugee crisis
The Emergency Accommodation Centre at Two Gateway Building, East Wall Road
DateNovember 6, 2022 (2022-11-06)
Location
Caused byPlanning and establishment of transitional shelters for refugees across Ireland by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
GoalsPro-immigration protests
  • More information about the shelters for residents
  • Better living conditions for refugees
  • Housing for refugee women and children

Anti-immigrant protests

  • Removal of all refugees and shutdown of the shelters
Methods
StatusOngoing
Casualties
ArrestedNone as of 7 November 2022, arson investigations ongoing

Protests in East Wall, Dublin started in November 2022 over the housing of approximately 80 refugee men in a converted office block in the area.[1] Days later, a similar protest and subsequent counter-protest happened in Fermoy, County Cork over the housing of 62–70 refugees in a local convent.[2][3] These protests followed incidents in Kill, County Kildare over plans to house immigrants in an equestrian centre, where there was a protest and a fire.[4] The protests raised similar concerns over refugee selection discrimination and the lack of prior information to original residents of the areas.[5][6][7]

The presence of anti-immigrant protestors and members of the far-right at these protests been highlighted online and in the media.[8][6] Some protestors have questioned the lack of women and children among the first asylum seekers to arrive in each area.[9][6][7]

East Wall protests

The converted office block that is used to house the refugees was formerly used by the ESB Group. It will be managed by Gateway Integration Ltd for at least 12 months starting from December 2022.[5] The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) cited the urgency of the situation as the reason why consultation was not held in advance.[10] A leaflet was subsequently sent out to residents providing further information.[5][11]

Various reasons for the protest have been cited including: the lack of prior consultation with residents about the arrivals,[11] the potential overcrowding of children's facilities,[8] that the building is reportedly not fit for purpose,[12] and the lack of women and children in the initial group,[9] though local residents have described the protests as embarrassing.[8] However, a North African refugee reported to The Irish Mirror that there is respect for the protestors within the refugee group and that they agree with them.[12]

The only people staying at the building as of 25 November 2022 were around 100 single males who had arrived from Citywest and Athlone,[13][11] or who were previously living in tents, but the DCEDIY has said the next group to move in will be families.[14] Others have complained the government did not provide similar accommodation for people affected by the Dublin homelessness crisis.[15]

The protests also quickly became used by far-right groups such as the National Party and Irish Freedom Party to promote their ideologies, including Euroscepticism and Irish ultra-nationalism.[16][1][17] After videos of refugees arriving by bus spread online, it was used to promote racist and pro-Russian ideologies online,[18] as well as at the protest itself, with a shouts of "hang them" and chants of "get them out" directed at the refugees.[19] Protestors and politicians have frequently mentioned that the refugees comprise Ukrainian refugees of the Russo-Ukrainian War when referencing the event, but the Department of Justice says that as of 2 December 2022 it has yet to determine the status of asylum seekers in the building and would ultimately deport any non-genuine refugees.[14] The DCEDIY, however, has said that they are not economic migrants, despite a claim made by the activist Ben Gilroy.[14] One refugee has identified themselves as being Afghan and had fled from the Taliban.[19]

East Wall Protest Committee

On 28 November and 5 December, protesters blocked access to the Dublin Port Tunnel, leading to diversions, and a group of the protesters identifying as the East Wall Protest Committee have held further regular protests at the tunnel and on the East Wall Road.[20][21] It is led by the solicitor, former Workers' Party member, and Irish Freedom Party associate, Malachy Steenson, who describes himself as a republican socialist.[22][6] It includes far-right activists and not all residents support it.[8]

The Committee paused their protests to meet with Roderic O'Gorman (the minister leading the DCEDIY), Paschal Donohoe (the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform), and another committee but Steenson said prior to the meeting that he had no intention of ceasing the protest, which resumed after the meeting, blocking traffic again on 2 December.[11][23] A news report described Steenson and Hermann Kelly, leader of the Irish Freedom Party, also using the protest to speak out against the provision of tampons in the male toilets of Dáil Éireann, LGBT flags, the alternate anthem used by the Irish Rugby Football Union, Sinn Féin and its leader Mary Lou McDonald, local Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon, the EU, the The Late Late Toy Show, and the "super woke".[17]

Fermoy demonstrations

On 29 November, videos similar to those taken in East Wall were taken by local soccer team owner Anthony Cody showing more refugees exiting a bus in Fermoy, County Cork.[6] Smaller protests on 26 November were instigated by Derek Blighe of "Ireland First" (a Telegram group with just over 3,100 subscribers) and attended by 70 people in the town over housing refugees in St. Joseph's Convent and he commended the East Wall protests in his address.[10][2] He claims that the 62–70 Ukrainians were not from Ukraine and that the Russo-Ukrainian War is not a war.[2][3] Concerns were again raised that there were only single men refugees, but all men were part of a family group.[6][24]

In response to this, up to 300 people from Fermoy held a counter-demonstration 'Rally against Racism' organised by Fermoy and Mallow Against Racism with music and banners to show support for the refugees and to discredit the first protest.[25][26][24] At the demonstration, local musician Mo O'Connor performed his own composition, Homeland, about Mexicans who had migrated to the United States,[24] people in the community that run services supporting refugees gave speeches (like the local Sanctuary Runners, also available for refugees in East Wall[10]), and local Cork politicians were there to support the event. Blighe said the counter-demonstrators from Fermoy were not from Fermoy and the counter-demonstrators similarly claim that the initial protesters are not from Fermoy and do not represent Fermoy.[6]

The convent had been derelict for 50 years[6] and refugees are also staying at the old Grand Hotel and in a separate church property as well.[24]

Kill protest

On Sunday 6 November 2022, a protest was held by locals of Kill, County Kildare over an equestrian centre earmarked for development as a transitional shelter for 350 refugees.[4][7] Concerns were raised over lack of information, the possible lack of women and children (as there were no family units), and overcrowding. The protest itself was without incident, but shortly after 8pm, a fire broke out in a shed in the rear of the centre and the incident was investigated by the Garda Síochána.[4] On November 22, Roderic O'Gorman held a meeting with Kill residents over the site. On that day, there was a protest at Leinster House and a motorcade protest of between 100 and 200 vehicles from Kill to Naas and back.[7]

"Ireland is full"

The phrase "Ireland is full" is a slogan that has trended on Twitter (as the hashtag "#IrelandIsFull") prior to these protests.[6] It suggests that Ireland does not have any more accommodation or supports for additional refugees. The DCEDIY projected a shortfall of 15,000 beds for refugees in December 2022 and admitted that there was mounting pressure to house 65,000 people.[5][10] Despite this, in Fermoy there are only 19 families, 25 children and eight single women refugees,[26] yet St. Joseph's Convent, where most are staying, can house 77 people with additional capacity allowing 150 people by the end of the year, according to spokesperson for the DCEDIY.[2]

Similarly, while East Wall began housing around 80 asylum seekers, a spokesperson for the DCEDIY said "The capacity of the building at East Wall is 380 persons, made up of families and single adults seeking International Protection, on separate access controlled floors." and that single refugees will not have access to the family floors.[13]

Opponents of the "Ireland is full" hashtag have pointed to the 2022 census of Ireland, which showed that there were over 166,000 vacant dwellings in Ireland (not counting holiday homes).[27][28]

References

  1. ^ a b Keena, Colm (20 November 2022). "East Wall residents protest against new refugee accommodation". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Kelleher, Olivia (2 December 2012). "Anti-racism rally to be held in Fermoy following refugee protest outside accommodation centre". BreakingNews.ie. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b Glavin, Katie (3 August 2022). "Hopes to further accommodate Ukrainian families in Fermoy". The Avondhu Press. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Cullen, Michelle (7 November 2022). "Blaze breaks out at Kildare premises at centre of plans to accommodate Ukrainian refugees". The Irish Mirror. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Protest held over housing of asylum seekers in Dublin". RTÉ.ie. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i McAuley, Eimer (3 December 2022). "Fermoy latest town to be visited by anti-immigration campaigners and misinformation". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d O'Meara, Paul (22 November 2022). "Kildare residents stage road protest ahead of meeting over refugees accommodation". Kildare Live by Leinster Leader. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d Grennan, Dan (30 November 2022). "East Wall locals slam 'embarrassing' refugee protests bringing 'element of fear' to the area". Dublin Live. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  9. ^ a b De Vaal, Danny (21 November 2022). "Second protest takes place in East Wall after 'male-only' asylum seekers housed in old ESB building". The Irish Mirror. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d Malekmian, Shamim (30 November 2022). "How the Government Created an Opening for Anti-Immigration Activists to Exploit in East Wall". Dublin Inquirer. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d Pepper, Diarmuid (22 November 2022). "Minister says East Wall 'leaflet drop' is planned amid dispute over asylum seeker accommodation". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  12. ^ a b De Vaal, Danny (9 December 2022). "Inside East Wall refugee centre as asylum seekers want to join protests and say rooms are like 'cage for animals'". The Irish Mirror. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  13. ^ a b Blaney, Ferghal (25 November 2022). "Ministers meet East Wall, Dublin residents protesting over arrival of hundreds of Ukrainian refugees into their community". The Irish Mirror. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  14. ^ a b c Raymond, Shane (2 December 2022). "Debunked: Asylum seekers, not economic migrants, are being housed at the East Wall building". The Journal Fact Check. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  15. ^ Payne, Conor (30 November 2022). "Protests in Dublin's East Wall: Unite and Fight for a Decent Life for All". International Socialist Alternative. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  16. ^ Wilson, James (29 November 2022). "East Wall protests 'now a far-right rally'". Newstalk. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  17. ^ a b Sherry, Alan (27 November 2022). "Losing their tampers: East Wall protesters say it's a 'culture war' as they lash out at tampons in male toilets". Sunday World. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  18. ^ Moore, Jane (21 November 2022). "Further protests in Dublin's East Wall over asylum seeker accommodation". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  19. ^ a b Whyte, Barry (24 November 2022). "East Wall asylum seekers find protests 'very intimidating'". Newstalk. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  20. ^ Quann, Jack (29 November 2022). "East Wall resident says there were 'no right-wing people' at protest". Newstalk. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  21. ^ Grennan, Dan (5 December 2022). "Dublin traffic LIVE: Heavy delays expected as Port Tunnel closed due to protest". Dublin Live. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  22. ^ Sheehan, Maeve (26 November 2022). "Local residents and right-wing activists among crowd as protest resumes against East Wall asylum accommodation". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  23. ^ Gallagher, Conor (2 December 2022). "East Wall protesters block traffic again, with organiser promising wider disruptions". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  24. ^ a b c d Riegel, Ralph (3 December 2022). "Hundreds stand against racism at Fermoy rally". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  25. ^ O'Callaghan, Gavin (2 December 2022). "Fermoy locals hosting 'Rally against Racism' demo in response to asylum protests". Cork Beo. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  26. ^ a b Kelleher, Olivia (3 December 2022). "'We welcome people in need': Hundreds gather in Fermoy in support of refugees". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  27. ^ "Census 2022 and Vacant Dwellings FAQ". Central Statistics Office. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  28. ^ "Editorial: Ireland is not full, it's derelict". Trinity News. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
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