Ireland’s leading left-wing party has promised to implement tougher asylum rules if it is elected into government later this year.
Sinn Féin — a member of The Left group in the European Parliament — is to unveil the new “A Fair System that Works” policy at an event in Dublin later on July 23 amid a surge in protests and political violence over the island’s mass-migration crisis.
According to a report by the Irish Times, the new policy will revolve around the implementation of a “two-tier” asylum system that prioritises Ukrainian refugees over arrivals from other countries.
The asylum centre is ablaze again #CoolockSaysNo pic.twitter.com/kiQGKVJX6k
— The Burkean (@TheBurkeanIE) July 19, 2024
The party is also promising to audit possible migrant housing locations for suitability, contrasting the current government policy of installing the facility often without informing locals living in the area.
Such a policy, the left-wing party will insist, is grounded in “equality, anti-racism and human rights”.
Locals consulted as part of the new policy however will not be allowed to veto the installation of migrants in their area.
"The reality is they want to shut down debate!"
Irish MEP candidate @MalachySteenson talked to Brussels about the controversial Irish hate speech legislation.
Watch the full interview at https://t.co/WZkkhqEvwy #FreeSpeech #Ireland pic.twitter.com/bBjD3Tvuvb
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) May 17, 2024
The announcement came amid increasing political violence in the country surrounding the government installation of migrant centres in towns and villages across the island.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ireland’s Government expressed interest in taking those fleeing the conflict, with then-Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin promising zero “caps” on arrivals coming from the country.
Ireland quickly became overwhelmed, with the government eventually forced to convert abandoned office blocks and industrial facilities into make-shift accommodations for Ukrainian refugees and non-Ukrainian asylum seekers.
That triggered a mass protest movement in the country, with many voters unhappy that the Irish Government was willing to acquire housing for foreign arrivals in the midst of a housing crisis.
🚨🇮🇪 Coolock, Irelands
The crowds grow in support of this Irish Community by the day.
The Worlds eyes are on Coolock & the resistance to Global tyranny. pic.twitter.com/7l8qEISKxH
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) July 20, 2024
While the vast majority of these protests have been peaceful, attempts by the Irish State to crack down on some of these demonstrations have sparked political violence.
Arson attacks on proposed migrant centres in the country have become a common occurrence, with one former factory earmarked for asylum seekers having been set alight as many as five times over the past few days after the government attempted to clear a protest encampment blocking attempts to retrofit the building.
Located in the Dublin village of Coolock, the site has become the centre of escalating tensions between the government and Ireland’s working class, with footage of clashes between riot police and youth in the area being regularly uploaded online.
Both sides have blamed the other for the violence, with Ireland’s national police force — An Garda Síochána — recently claiming to have seized multiple homemade incendiary devices near the Coolock factory.
Amid the chaos, Sinn Féin — a traditionally working-class party — has haemorrhaged support, with many voters having abandoned the outfit during the European Parliament elections in favour of independent politicians espousing right-wing talking points.
As of writing, the party remains the country’s most popular despite having dropped around 13 points over the past two years.
The Greens and hard-left have been crushed in Ireland’s European Parliament elections after a lengthy vote count.https://t.co/qVcVCl1qKl
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) June 14, 2024
