East Wall protest suspended as Minister agrees to meet residents group

This evenings residents protest meeting in East Wall at the offices being used to accommodate refugees/asylum seekers has been cancelled after it was announced that Minister Roderick O’Gorman, has agreed to meet the residents to discuss their concerns about  the use and future use of the former ESB office building on East Wall Road.

“Earlier today I contacted Senator Mary Fitzpatrick who contacted Minister O’Gorman via An Taoiseach asking that he meet the residents group in East Wall to discuss their concerns” Cllr. Nial Ring said yesterday evening.

“Right from the start of this PR disaster for the Government, the residents of the area just wanted communication, contact and conversation to get answers to their legitimate questions and address their concerns” he explained.

“This will now happen on Friday and the residents’ representatives can ask the questions that have been asked by the entire community, namely, who are the people who have been placed there?

“Where are they from?, have they been Garda vetted?, how long will they be there?, who else is going in there?, is the building fit for purpose?, is there valid change of use planning permission?, is there a valid and appropriate fire cert?, why were the community ignored up to now? etc. etc.

“These questions could have been addressed much earlier and prevented all the rumours, misinformation and idle speculation, but at least now answers will be forthcoming” he continued.

“The community in East Wall are pleased that there is progress on this and the last thing they wanted was to be “lumped in” with some of the groups who attended the protests with their own sinister, bigoted and racists agendas” he concluded.