Taoiseach says anti-refugees protests are ‘not the Irish way’

The Taoiseach has expressed his grave concern over the rise of the far-right in this nation and stated that anti-refugee demonstrations are “not the Irish way.”

Leo Varadkar criticised the scenes at several protests in recent days and weeks, but he also acknowledged that strong systems must be in place to make sure that those who come to this country have genuine reasons for needing international protection, Irish Examiner reported

“I’m very concerned about the rise of the far right and the rise of racism in Ireland.

“Refugees are welcome here,” he said. Mr Varadkar confirmed that the refugee crisis and the war in Ukraine were raised during a meeting with European Parliament president Roberta Metsola in Government Buildings.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Varadkar said: “It’s important that we have robust systems in place to make sure that we welcome those who are genuinely fleeing war and oppression and return those who are not. I want people to be sure that that is what we will do.

“But the scenes that we’ve seen in recent days and in recent weeks really aren’t acceptable. It is not the Irish way.

“Irish people understand migration. All of our families have been shaped by it. We’ve been welcomed all around the world and in some parts of the world, we’ve been mistreated. As a country, we should know better.”

He said it is “not the Irish way of doing things,” he denounced far-right-organized protests.

President Metsola stated during a joint session of the Oireachtas that the war in Ukraine has served as a wake-up call for everyone that justice and progress cannot be taken for granted.

%d bloggers like this: