Thread by @ruairimckiernan

Thread.
I didn't want to have to tweet but needs must.
I was recently contacted about Syrian (resettlement programme) refugees in Co Longford. Welcomed by community BUT their housing situation is dire incl case of "pregnant woman sleeping in a car with engine on to keep warm"👇

Above case occurred during recent freezing weather. It is now freezing again. Another example of substandard accom incl child experiencing electrical currents from wall due to faulty wiring. All of this was reported by families & their friends but to NO avail (over long period)👇

Those involved are exasperated. Hard to keep fighting against institutional inertia, which we see time & time again in Ireland. Complete lack of responsibility, accountability, compassion. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. So.. I looked into the situation & decided to advocate as best I could.👇

10 days ago I emailed a polite but firm appeal to @rodericogorman, @HMcEntee, @SorcaClarke_TD @peterburkefg, @RobertTroyTD, some relevant NGOs & Director of Services at @longfordcoco. Provided basic info & a contact no. 👇

Most NGOs replied as did @joefla, @SorcaClarke_TD, @peterburkefg & office of @rodericogorman. I hoped things would move last week & wouldn't need to post on Twitter, that people just do their job. Apparently, this going on a very long time. Nothing has changed since. Nothing.👇

I have no involvement with any party or group, just coming at this as a citizen with a voice who knows I too need to do more. I can't just ignore a story of a pregnant Syrian refugee sleeping in a car to keep warm. Who can? Why no action? Why the inertia?👇

Money isn't the issue here. The refugee resettlement programme is funded. Civil SERVANTs well paid to SERVE the needs of the people. Yes, there's a pandemic but all the more reason to respond to cries for help. 👇

There are now weather warnings for snow & ice. This needs ACTION & FAST. I raise this to spark change on this situation but my experience is that similar is going on elsewhere when it comes to needs of our homeless, asylum seekers, refugees & others. System grinds people down.👇

I'll return to the story of the pregnant woman. I couldn't stop thinking about the recent #MotherandBabyHomeReport. The same institutional mindset prevails, the systemic apathy, neglect, offloading, outsourcing, 'not my problem' attitude. It's cruel, dangerous, damaging.👇

We're worried about social distancing, missing friends & family, rights, freedoms, fun etc. Think of those in hubs, hostels & cramped direct provision camps. Those stranded in freezing cold tents in Lesbos. We criticise the US & elsewhere yet we've problems closer to home.👇

How can we condemn what happened in #MotherandBabyHomes & tolerate the warehousing of people in direct provision & in hubs? The country is awash with resources. What we are lacking is vision, leadership, empathy, compassion. 👇

It's urgent that @longfordcoco & officials sort this situation out. As to the other issues, we need to do more, I need to do more. This is a defining moment in our history, a chance to reflect, rebuild & set a new course. Care for our vulnerable has to be at the heart. 🇮🇪🙏❤

👆 @LWLLongford @Longford_Leader @ShannonsideFM @JoeFinneganShow @sheilareilly123 @longwestlocal @jessicadotie @lukeming @MacManusChris @MariaWalshEU @colmmarkey @NWCI @OrlaNWCI @UpliftIRL @siobhwithafada

Relevant footnote: residents pay rent dirrctly to @longfordcoco

Regarding the above, unfortunately residential tenancies legislation does not apply to tenants of local authorities.

--
cc @RoryHearne @ThresholdIRE @JMMcCafferty

Shouldn't need to be emphasised but we're talking about people from Syria, location of world’s largest humanitarian catastrophe. 400,000 killed, 1/2 forced to leave homes. Hard to imagine having to flee, suffer & seek sanctuary in Ireland & now freezing & desperate for help.

. @ShamimMalekmian @SorchaPollak @RazanIreland

Some updates:
- Families are in immediate urgent need/distress.
- I went on @JoeFinneganShow this morn to discuss & call for @longfordcoco (specifically CEO Paddy Mahon & John Brannigan) to act. They release a statement that is weak & incorrect. FOI will expose this.
more 👇

More updates:
- I'm in touch with locals on the ground, TDs, media etc.
- First complaint raised with Council Dec 2019. No responses.
- Construction work was ongoing for 2 months when families moved into house. They were unable to advocate on it.
👇

More:
- Families spent years in refugee camps in Lebanon..only now to end up in distress in Co. Longford
- Worth noting, community have been welcoming, integration good, BUT relatively simple actions from @longfordcoco could sort this out.
- No more can kicking. Need action TODAY

More:
- Some people in touch about donating supplies etc. Difficult with restrictions, confidentiality etc. Doing our best to coordinate.
- I'm going to make a personal donation & open to others joining me (DM me) but this is not the key part of this issue right now.

More:
On @JoeFinneganShow I reacted to @longfordcoco statement being read out on air by calling it a 'cut and paste job'. The usual 'we can't speak about cases, we always do our job etc. etc'.. Nonsense, negligence, FOI will prove this.

CONTACTS 👇

Longford Co. Council (should be publicly available) (fix spacing)

Paddy Mahon CEO
pmahon@longfordcoco .ie

John Brannigan Director of Services:
jbrannigan@longfordcoco .ie

Local TD
peter.burke@oir .ie
joe.flaherty@oir .ie
robert.troy@oir .ie
sorca.clarke@oir .ie

More:
Relevant TDs, some of whom working on this:
@rodericogorman
@HMcEntee
@joefla
@SorcaClarke_TD
@peterburkefg
@RobertTroyTD
👇

A chance (I hope) this will get sorted soon (if we force it to) which will be a success.

Qs:

Why do we keep having to drop everything to campaign in public for basic rights/treatment? Poor reflection on state.

Also, this is going on in other areas. Heard similar in Waterford.

So, there's an immediate critical issue here, and @longfordcoco need to be held accountable (and act!) BUT let's start asking the questions about how the Refugee Resettlement Programme is being implemented. Who is overseeing it? Is it safe? Where are the protections?

Not forgetting the approx 6000 people in privately owned direct provision camps. Isolated/hidden away in poor cramped conditions (not Covid-safe) without necessary transparency on how people are being treated. Countless horror stories. Ref: @masi_asylum (masi.ie)

cc above thread @simoncoveney who was recently speaking about Ireland's leadership around Syrian humanitarian efforts. Major issues at home about how we express/implement humanitarian effort, esp with Local authorities such as @longfordcoco above.
----
@chrisrdonoghue

Still no news of any action from Longford Co Co beyond statement saying 'nothing to see here'. So you hear about a pregnant woman in distress, ignore countless complaints & pleas, go home to your warm house, & just carry on? Sorry lads, we're not having it.

URGENT means urgent.

Update:
Still no practical response from @longfordcoco. Heard (unconfirmed) Council saying @RespondHousing is responsible for management of accom. Respond, as i understand it, are responsible for resettlement support, NOT the unsafe substandard accom rented from @longfordcoco 👇

Rumour that Respond resettlement contract may end late spring & sounds to me that there's a real danger of passing the buck & classical can kicking which is all too common (& transparent). @longfordcoco rather fudge/distract than offer immediate support to people in distress? 👇

Still no response from office of @rodericogorman after raising this via email 11 days ago. Refugee programme is coordinated by IRPP team who are now located in @dcediy Department of- Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).

Now politicians, journos, NGOs & others engaged on this but still NO PRACTICAL ACTION when comes to immediate needs of families who are living in cold, damp, unsafe conditions. Appreciate all efforts regardless of party etc. but they need practical help today 👉👉 @longfordcoco

Hearing Joe Flaherty TD (FF) for Longford is looking at this with the council & highlighting it *BUT* there's possible emerging view that 'council are not responsible' which leads to inevitable can-kicking, deflection, delay, then everyone forgets about it.

Sort it out folks.

'Pregnant refugee in Longford spent night of freezing weather in car due to home heating issues'
shannonside.ie/news/local/pre… via @shannonsidenews @ShannonsideFM @NewsonNS @NorthernSoundFM

Worth stressing @longfordcoco have said @RespondHousing manage the accomodation but this is not the case. Why deny responsibility?

@rodericogorman @joefla @SorcaClarke_TD
@peterburkefg @RobertTroyTD @shannonsidenews @JoeFinneganShow @ShannonsideFM @NewsonNS @NorthernSoundFM

Important info:
Families relying on kerosene heater to keep warm. Poses immediate health & safety risk incl risk of fire, explosion, asphyxiation, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. Risk to PREGNANT WOMAN, children, family.

@longfordcoco ? 👇

⚠️ Highlighting above urgent FIRE health & safety risk again to @longfordcoco & @rodericogorman @joefla
@SorcaClarke_TD @peterburkefg @RobertTroyTD ⚠️

cc @sineadgibney @_IHREC @OCO_ireland @Tanya_Ward @RespondHousing @IrishRefugeeCo @NascIreland @DorasIRL @campaign4carrig

and so it continues, nobody ever responsible, but we see you @longfordcoco.

https://twitter.com/zoeobeimhen/status/1354098100302917632

👇
Update
Statement from Respond below re their role. Proves @longfordcoco wrong to state it's not responsible for what could be illegal provision of health/safety risk accommodation to refugees.

@joefla @peterburkefg @RobertTroyTD @SorcaClarke_TD
@rodericogorman @DeptJusticeIRL

NEW: 'Department aware of severe housing issues facing refugees'

'Aware' is good but action is better!
@dcediy @longfordcoco

Pregnant Syrian refugee forced to sleep in her car with the engine running to keep warm.
irishexaminer.com/news/arid-4021… @Aine_Kenny_ @noelbaker1 @Deeshocks

Latest: 'Fianna Fail TD backs Longford County Council.'

@joefla 'Joe O’Flaherty has given his assurances that Longford County Council is aware of the issues and will address them.'

shannonside.ie/news/local/lon… @ShannonsideFM @shannonsidenews

@joefla @ShannonsideFM @shannonsidenews PLEASE READ👇
Verified testimony from Syrian refugee in Co Longford, in Ireland under EU funded resettlement programme IRRP. Describing his battle with @longfordcoco for basic dignity & rights. Still no practical response to above issues, 1st raised over 1 yr ago.
Soul crushing.

Other aspects of resettlement programme been positive, incl people of Longford v welcoming & some effective supports in place. Issues raised in thread needn't take away from good work being done. Authorities don't need to be defensive, just responsive, makes life easier for all.