Ireland’s poorest communities are ‘not the correct setting’ for asylum seeker accommodation, according to Mary Lou McDonald.

The Sinn Féin leader was speaking after her party launched a new immigration policy – which sees the party calling for audits of local services to be carried out before asylum seeker accommodation is opened in a community.

On The Pat Kenny Show this morning, Deputy McDonald said the document is “humane” to asylum seekers – while also emphasising “dialogue” with local communities.

She insisted that Sinn Féin’s approach to immigration is now “very different from the Government’s approach".

“Nothing in the document is hugely new on the issue of community,” she said. “I had been banging this drum since way back when – November 2022 – because we faced many of these issues in my own community in East Wall. 

“What the document does, though, is it pulls together all of the elements in terms of proper resourcing, in terms of community engagement. 

“[It is] stating clearly that, when you are placing these facilities and services, that we need for very vulnerable people, you have to have regard for the community into which you are going. 

“The poorest of the poor communities are not the correct setting.” 

McDonald denies 'veto power'

Deputy McDonald insisted the promise of engagement would not amount to a “veto power” for local communities to reject asylum seekers should Sinn Féin come to power.

She said there are many areas within Dublin City with enough space and resources to accommodate international protection applicants. 

Other areas, however, are not equipped for an influx of people and should not have more pressure placed on their community. 

“I feel very strongly that the inequality in our society has to be addressed,” she said. 

“The last thing I want to see is any community left behind - and when I say left behind, I'm talking about very, very basic facilities that so many of our communities don't have.” 

'Realistic assessments'

The Government needs to look at “the reality out on the ground” before making major changes to a community – particularly when “bringing cohorts of vulnerable new people into communities”. 

“We're talking about a realistic assessment of the infrastructure, the services,” said Deputy McDonald.

“We're talking about respectful dialogue and engagement and actually listening to and responding to communities.” 

The Sinn Féin leader said her new party policy proposes a multi-agency approach including educational and health organisations, as well as local authorities.

She said resident organisations and sporting clubs “came together” to call for mediation during the recent unrest over asylum seeker accommodation in Coolock, adding that the document, “is very much the instinctive and necessary response that's coming from the grassroots up”.

Scenes near Crown Paints after a fire was started in the building on Friday night after an earlier peaceful public meeting and march to the Coolock Garda Station, 20/07/2024 Image: Rolling News

This policy will prevent the “last-minute” plans to accommodate asylum seekers in communities, according to Deputy McDonald – hopefully preventing protests from emerging in the future. 

She noted anyone engaging in violent protests "has to face the law".

Sinn Féin has sought to reinvent its immigration policy after a poor performance at local and European elections in early June.

Speaking to Newstalk after the election, Deputy McDonald said the party was engaging with its “grassroots” members to find a path for the future. 

She said Sinn Féin will now strive to "reflect" people's opinions on "crucial" issues ahead of the next general election.