Aontú leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has received an answer to a parliamentary question from the Minister of Justice where the Minister admits that “data on IPAS Accommodation residents and their employment status is not collated by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS)”.
According to An Teachta Tóibín ‘this is a startling revelation. It shows that the despite all the talk from the government there is little progress made on the promise to ensure that individuals that are earning a wage should contribute to their accommodation costs. Everyone in the state who has the means to pay for their rent should make a contribution to their rent. It absolutely wrong that 2 people living in the same town, working at the same job, on the same income would be treated differently in terms of rent. That one would have to pay rent and the other wouldn’t, is unjust. It is damaging to cohesion. It will create bitterness and anger”.
“There has been a push by Labour and the Social Democrats back on this policy. There appears to be an effort to create a chilling effect around respectful discussion on the issue of immigration. It cannot be the case where between 70% – 80% of the population seek a stricter immigration system yet their political representatives are afraid to speak. The best solution to the extremist perspectives is healthy, robust and respectful debate”.