The Irish government has been forced to abandon emergency plans to set up a migrant camp for 1,000 asylum seekers after a legal challenge from local MPs over the camp's environmental impact.
Ireland's High Court was told this week that the government had “admitted” a case brought by Chief Justice Paul Hogan against plans to house around 1,000 people. male immigrant In 150 tents near the town of Athlone in central Ireland.
Mr Horgan, a member of the centre-right Irish Independence Party, argued essentially from a left-wing perspective against the left-wing government, accusing it of failing to carry out a proper environmental assessment for the project. He said an environmental assessment would be carried out. Construction of modular housing units to house migrants, broadcaster RTE report.
He also warned of traffic risks, saying that as migrants are given the freedom to leave the facility, “significant traffic hazards and health and safety issues are inevitable” on the roads surrounding the camp.
Hogan also argued that dumping 1,000 people into the town of about 22,000 would have a “negative public health impact” as local health services are already strained.
The manifesto for an independent Ireland states: noticed: “Schools are overcrowded, doctor's wait times continue to increase, and school dentists have become a distant memory. Illegal immigration has decimated the tourism industry, one of our nation's largest industries for more than half a century.” I let it happen.
“Understandably, many Irish citizens oppose the establishment of permanent immigration centers within their communities.”
When the government announced the plan in October, it sparked a huge backlash in the small town, including fundraising for a legal challenge, local rallies and protests.
In an affidavit filed in the High Court, Mr Hogan said he and other local councilors had “no prior consultation or communication” from the Ministry of Integration before the announcement of the planned migrant camps. said.
At last month's demonstration against a planned migrant camp, a local resident said of Irish independent Newspaper: “We don't trust the government to figure out who these people are. They won't listen to our concerns and our communities are being lost.'' Ta.”
“We're not racist, but what the government is doing would make you very racist,” said another. “There are too many single men.”
Fianna Fail councilor Aengus O'Rourke said the incident proved “the state cannot commit violent acts against communities without consulting the democratic process”.
Mr O'Rourke said the incident should send a strong message to the government and he hoped “it will listen”.
