Eddie Hobbs visits Citywest to speak with local community leaders about the impact of Ireland’s asylum accommodation system on their village. Featuring interviews with Kiran Kassan and Anne Sullivan from Saggart, and studio guest Linda DeCoursey, an Independent Ireland councillor from Clondalkin.
Expect to learn about the transformation of Saggart from a quiet village to an area housing over 2,400 asylum seekers, the community’s concerns regarding safety and cultural integration, and the documented incidents within the International Protection Accommodation center. The discussion covers the government’s limited engagement with local residents, the removal of security barriers before an EU Commissioner’s visit, and the changing political narrative around immigration in Ireland.
This conversation examines the broader European context of immigration policies, the recent shift in Irish government rhetoric following electoral pressure, and questions whether these changes represent genuine policy reform or merely political posturing. Linda DeCoursey also shares insights on her path to local politics and the challenges facing Irish communities dealing with rapid demographic changes.
Credit to : Eddie Hobbs