Kerry TD Danny Healy Rae has asked that the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O'Gorman meet residents of the Muckross Road area to hear their concerns on the placement of 70 male International Protection Seekers in a hotel in the area.

Danny Healy Rae

Earlier this month it was announced that 70 male International Protection Seekers were to be moved into the Harmony Hotel.

The announcement sparked anger in the local area.

An open public meeting took place in the Killarney Avenue Hotel on Sunday night to address these concerns. Over 300 people attended.
Healy Rae was one of many local public representatives to attend the meeting.

“Many people vented their anger and concern about this hurried introduction of these people into their community, concerns were especially raised about the intimidating effect that this would have on all local people and especially young boys and girls and older senior people and also the damage the loss of another guest house to the hospitality sector and the Killarney Tourism product,” he said.

“Other issues raised was about the cramming of over 70 people into 22 bedrooms. at the end of the meeting it was unanimously requested that the minister meets with a deputation of local residents in Killarney at the earliest opportunity and certainly before any further asylum seekers are placed in Killarney.”

Meanwhile, local councillor, Martin Grady has also been briefed by local residents who have raised concerns on the matter.

“They have grave concerns, that fact that its looking likely 70 unvetted men will be residing in their neighbourhood . While not painting all with the same brush, I totally understand the residents’ concerns and fears in light of what happened in Park Road on News Years Day this year as I experienced the anti-social behaviour it brought to the neighbourhood,” he said.

“No one should be in such fear in their homes or neighbourhood. Shame on the selfish landlords that have no consideration for the people of Killarney.”

Healy-Rae brought the issue up in the Dail this week.

“They want this decision reversed because there is a lack of surety of safety and services in the town of Killarney now with the amount of Asylum seekers and refugees that are being placed there, we seem to be taking way more than our share in Killarney,” he said.

“The Matter of vetting is very important to these people, where are these people coming from? The residents want to know who is coming in beside them, where are they from, how many different countries are they coming from because we had trouble earlier in the year in another side of town and the people of Killarney are concerned, old and young and women are fearing for their safety with this amount of people being placed beside them in the town of Killarney.”

Minister Simon Harris gave him no hearing whatsoever/! 
He said:
“I am going to have to bite my lip, I think that is a dog whistle in many ways, those comments there, I would love to know what you think people are fearing in terms of their safety and what peoples nationalities have to do with their safety , but I think you and I have a very different outlook on this and I think the majority of the people in Kerry do too.”