*Photograph: John Mangan
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC do not have a veto on who lives next to them, Minister for Higher Education, Simon Harris (FG) has said.
A month ago, Minister Harris was among the first members of Cabinet to criticise Inch locals for mounting a blockade following the arrival of 34 male asylum seekers to Magowna House calling their actions “inappropriate”.
Having temporarily been Minister for Justice during Helen McEntee’s (FG) maternity leave, Minister Harris also said the Gardaí needed to reflect on why it did not intervene in allowing Inch residents block access to a publicly owned road.
Speaking in Ennis, Minister Harris told The Clare Echo, “I do stand by my view that blockades is not the way to go and every single person in this country has a right to go about their business unimpeded but of course local communities also have a right to make their voices heard and it’s about getting that balance right, there have been occasions when that balance wasn’t correct”.
He welcomed the return visit of Junior Minister with responsibility for Integration, Joe O’Brien (GP) to meet with Inch locals. “It is really important that as a Government we all continue to engage with communities, we answer questions and provide information, Minister O’Brien is doing a good job in that regard”.
Government’s lack of communication and particularly that emerging from the Department of Integration on the use of facilities in housing international protection applicants and persons fleeing war in Ukraine has been criticised.
Efforts must be made to improve the lines of communication, Minister Harris acknowledged. “I definitely acknowledge that we have been trying to do things in real time, as a result there hasn’t always been the time to consult in advance and we need to get better at that. As we move beyond the initial stage into a stage which will be with us for quite a while I think it is important to look at how we can better communicate with communities, nobody has a veto on who lives beside them, Ireland has really stepped up and communities in Co Clare have really stepped up but at the same time it is important we listen to communities and we financially support them”.
