Call for ban on canvassing in migrant centres to be lifted

Immigrant support groups have called for the lifting of a ban on political canvassing in direct provision centres.

It follows the banning of a local election candidate in Cork from canvassing a centre where up to 150 migrants are registered to vote in next week’s election.

Sinn Féin candidate Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, standing in the Ballincollig-Carrigaline electoral area, said he was refused access to canvass residents of the Kinsale Rd accommodation centre because of a national policy to keep such centres politically neutral.