No difference between Galway hotel fire and Dublin riots, says Galway councillor

Vivienne Clarke

The Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Liam Carroll, has said there was no difference between the riots in Dublin and the fire at a hotel in Oughterard which had been due to house international protection applicants.

“What's the difference between Garda cars and public service vehicles being targeted and set alight in the centre of our capital city and the flames, which the whole nation saw, in the hotel on Sunday, there’s just no difference, in my view,” he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.

The Fine Gael councillor said that he had “condemned unreservedly” the “senseless act of criminal damage” and the “wanton destruction” of the hotel when he first heard about the incident and at the council’s monthly meeting on Monday.

Members of the council passed a motion unanimously affirming support for the right of international applicants to seek asylum in Ireland. That right should be exercised without harassment or fear, he added.

The council had also condemned “the alleged criminal damage of property" and called on "the Department of Children, Equality Disability, Integration and Youth to improve their message of engagement and conversation and communication with communities.”

Cllr Carroll said that the community should have been informed two weeks ago about the plans to accommodate international protection applicants in the hotel. There needed to be dialogue with communities, he said.

At the meeting on Monday, there was support for 64 modular homes in Ballinasloe to accommodate 256 Ukrainians, about which there had been communication in advance

“There was dialogue on it over a number of weeks and a reasonable solution was agreed straight, and I salute and commend the my fellow councillors in Ballinasloe who unanimously agreed in the municipal district.”

When asked if Galway could provide for more people seeking assistance, Cllr Carroll said: “these asylum seekers are people who are fleeing from war. Yes, they are fleeing from climate action. They are fleeing from civil rights abuse. And I think we have the duty to take more of them.

"It's an emergency situation. They're coming from war torn countries like Somalia and like Sudan and other places. And I think that certainly it's our duty to ensure that we give them solace and security and a roof over their heads.”