FF leader "disagrees" with party's Athlone candidate over immigration comments

The Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said he disagrees with comments relating to immigration which were posted on a social media page of his party's Athlone candidate, Dympna Cunniffe.

There is ongoing controversy over the Government's plans to establish temporary accommodation for 1,000 male asylum seekers in Lissywollen, Athlone, a project which Ms Cunniffe described as "reckless".

She also said she wants to see "mandatory community consultations and community backstops" in relation to such projects, and accused the Government of "injecting vast numbers of people into communities... while systemically ignoring local voices."

Another social media post asked if parents would want their children going to school next to a site for 1,000 asylum seekers.

The Irish Independent reported that Ms Cunniffe had denied personally writing the latter post.

The Press Association reported that Micheál Martin said the developments in Athlone were a "manifestation of broader pressures on communities" around migration.

When asked about Dympna Cunniffe's comments on the matter, he replied: "I don't agree with those comments at all... I don't approve of those comments."

Mr Martin said there had been an “unprecedented” increase the number of people seeking asylum in Ireland, but he argued that the Government had behaved "responsibly" in its handling of the situation.

Ms Cunniffe could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.