Taoiseach faced criticism for suggesting there is a link between the record levels of immigration into Ireland and the more than 14,000 people in emergency accommodationPresident says “no evidence” from other countries that making asylum seekers pay for state accommodation once they started working deterred people from seeking asylumPresident criticises State’s handling of homelessness but says he won’t comment on any particular Government: “The planning is a disaster”
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York at the weekend, the President said there was “no evidence” from the experience of other countries that such measures worked as a deterrent to people seeking asylum.
The Taoiseach also doubled down on comments saying there was a link between immigration and rising rates of homelessness.
Mr Harris faced criticism for suggesting there was a link between the record levels of immigration into Ireland and the more than 14,000 people in emergency accommodation.
The Taoiseach said the “single biggest reason” people gave for presenting to Dublin homelessness services in July was exiting direct provision. He said more than 20pc of the people presenting were from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
Speaking in New York after an event at the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Harris said: “I was making the point, and I stand by it very, very much so, is that over the last number of years we’ve seen a growing population. Over the last number of years, we’ve seen many people come to our country.
“Our country benefits from immigration, but it is important to unpack an issue when you want to try and bring about solutions to it. When I became Taoiseach, I promised the people of Ireland that I was going to try and apply common sense and there’s absolutely no doubt that a rising population and a rising number of people coming to our country, of course, has an impact on housing supply.
“Of course, it’s not the fault of anybody. It’s not to apportion blame and it’s certainly not to apportion blame to vulnerable people, not in any manner or means, but the figures speak for themselves and the data is there for all people to see.”
Mr Harris was criticised after he told the Sunday Times that “homelessness numbers are heavily impacted by the fact we are seeing many people seek protection in our country”.
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – September 23rd
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said the Taoiseach was trying to “scapegoat international protection applicants for their own failures” and accused him of capitulating to anti-immigrant protesters.
“The Taoiseach is entitled to his opinions, but he is not entitled to his own facts. The fact is that those seeking international protection are not counted in the monthly homeless numbers. It is only those living in emergency accommodation who are counted in those figures,” Mr Gannon said.
“We cannot have a situation in which the leader of the country is engaging in misinformation and stoking further division in an effort to deflect blame from his own government’s handling of the housing disaster.”
Mr Harris also hit back at President Michael D Higgins’s criticism of plans to seek financial contributions from asylum seekers for state accommodation once they secure work in this country.
Speaking to reporters at the United Nations General Assembly, the President said: “No one has proved any arguments in relation to changing benefits as a deterrence.
“There’s no evidence there for that in Europe, and there isn’t much evidence for it anywhere else either, even in relation to Mexico and the United States. I began studying migration in 1968. It’s a long time ago,” he said.
Later in the day, Mr Harris said: “If you’re working, for example, and you have a right to work in our country, and you’re still in our asylum services or direct provision services, I believe you should have to contribute to part of the services that you receive.”
The President went on the criticise other aspects of the State’s housing system. Asked how he would characterise the Government’s handling of the housing crisis, he said he wouldn’t comment on any particular Government.
However, when it was put to him that it was an abject failure to have thousands of homeless families, he said: “There’s no doubt whatsoever that as one looks at it… I have to answer the question properly now, it has failed in many dimensions. The planning is a disaster. There aren’t enough planning officers working for the local authorities.”
He spoke about “the suggestion that the delay in providing houses is because of people going to court to exercise their rights.”
“I think the total number was two per cent. In most cases where the courts took the decision, it was in relation to planning flaws. So there’s side that of it.”
Mr Higgins also said it is “inconceivable” that the State would not directly build new homes and said the current policy was relying on “seducing” the private market.
