McDowell slammed over position on asylum seekers

JUSTICE Minister Michael

Referring to Mr McDowell’s policies on asylum seekers, Mr Costello said: “He is determined to build fortress Ireland, a neo-liberal bastion of smug, self-centred, self-satisfied insularity.

This is the man who, prior to becoming minister, rallied against the Department of Justice for the heartless way it treated asylum seekers and refugees,” said Mr Costello, accusing the minister of doing a U-turn by curtailing the freedom of movement of asylum seekers and introducing legislation to prevent people from fleeing from persecution.

Referring to the overall crime portfolio, Mr Costello said the Government had been a disaster and accused Mr McDowell of being a Walter Mitty-type character.

“He is a Walter Mitty-type figure who deceives himself into believing that he has achieved great things when all he has done is talked about them endlessly,” said Mr Costello.

Citing increased crime figures showing a rise of 22% in serious offences over two years, Mr Costello dismissed the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats election manifesto and its commitment to 2,000 extra gardaí.

Mr Costello also promised that a party policy document on alcohol would be published shortly, which will aim to replace the traditional tolerance of excessive alcohol consumption with a culture of responsibility.