Martin acknowledges 'pressure communities are under' in relation to housing refugees

Tanaiste Micheál Martin says that he "acknowledges the pressures that communities are under” in relation to accommodating asylum seekers admitting that the number of International Protection Applicants has increased “five fold” since the pandemic.

The Fianna Fail leader who was on the canvassing trail in Ratoath yesterday (Monday) with general election hopeful Cllr Caroline O Reilly was responding to the news that up to 70 people seeking international protection are to be accommodated in the centre of Navan in the coming weeks.

In a briefing document, the International Protection Accommodation Service has said it intends to use Flaxmill House, Mill Lane, Flower Hill, a former self-storage facility and offices to provide initial temporary accommodation for up to 40 people. This number is expected to increase to 70 when additional property works are completed.

The Tanaiste told Meath Chronicle while he accepted the pressures communities are under, the government was doing all it could to ensure the system was "fair and firm."

"The country is under a lot of pressure in terms of immigration, all countries across Europe are," said Martin.

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"There is consultation with local communities but it is not easy, it is difficult and it is challenging and the numbers have increased very significantly from before Covid, they have increased five fold and I acknowledge the pressures that communities are under but we are doing everything we possibly can to have a firm, fair system, a faster processing time for those who seek asylum and more affective returns if people are not entitled to stay," he added.

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The Tanaiste said that he believes securing a second seat for the party in Meath East in the upcoming general election is possible.

The area will become a four-seater constituency to reflect the rising population while Meath West will remain with three seats.

"I think it is realistic because nothing can be taken for granted today in the sense that people will examine all candidates carefully over the next while in advance of the general election so it’s wide open in that respect," he said.

"I think Caroline with her professional background has a lot of empathy with the people which I think will be a breath of fresh air in the constituency and I think it will represent something new," added the Tanaiste.

"Then in Thomas Byrne we have a very well proven minister who did an exceptional job as minister for European Affairs and is now doing an excellent job as Minister for Sport so we have a strong team and I believe we can do well."

The Fianna Fail leader said Senator Shane Cassells whose announcement last week that he was quitting politics, sent shockwaves through the world of politics represented Meath with "integrity and sincerity" and added that it was much more difficult to have a life long career in politics due to modern pressures.

"It is much more challenging and pressurising although Shane has spent 25 years in public life, he is a very enthusiastic person, very committed to Meath in particular, Meath sport above all and I spoke with him after his decision and he said to me that he felt he had given enough and he was anxious to pursue new avenues in his life," said Martin.

"I fully understand his decision and I want to thank him for the contribution that he has made to public life."

With both new faces, Cllr Caroline O'Reilly and Cllr Aisling Dempsey on the ticket for Meath East and Meath West respectively, new blood is important for the party according to the Tanaiste who said: "You always have to have a balance between experience and new voices and Caroline was elected in the local election and did very well, has clear ideas about what she would like to achieve in the constituency, nationally as well and I think has tremendous potential and Aisling Dempsey like wise has been on the council, got elected again, has put a lot of effort and time into this and so we are very excited with two new women candidates for Dail Eireann in Meath."

Meanwhile, the party leader was giving nothing away about the possibility of a general election before the year is out.

"I think my focus is on the budget, on the Finance act that has to follow that and on the Social Protection Act which is about people and have got to keep the eye on the ball in respect of trying to deal with people’s needs," he said.