Working-class communities feel 'ignored and disrespected' by Government, Dáil committee hears

Protesters outside the Crown Paints plant in Coolock in July: Far-right activists 'have more influence because they're constantly on social media, they're generating misinformation about migrants or asylum seekers or direct provision or whatever they're trying to whip up'. Picture: Leah Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

The Government “doesn’t trust working class communities”, and far-right figures in such areas are having an “outsized” influence as they generate misinformation on social media, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

Addressing the European Affairs Committee on the topic of attitudes to democracy and the rule of law in Ireland, think-tank Tasc said not addressing inequality has had a knock-on effect for trust in politics, according to its research.

“Social class remains a major determinant of satisfaction in democracy,” its executive director Dr Shana Cohen said.

“When we asked which groups were treated the most unfairly within Irish society, the most frequently mentioned group in [our] audit was people living in disadvantaged communities, followed by people with disabilities.

As someone told me very recently, the Government doesn't trust working-class communities, and residents of these communities feel like they are ignored and disrespected. 

"Councils would prefer to engage with middle-class charity staff representing these areas rather than directly with the people who live there.” 

She added research Tasc had conducted in disadvantaged areas recently found distrust and disinterest in the political process, as people felt policy-making was not helping them in their lives.

Focusing in on far-right activists, Dr Cohen said they “deliberately spread disinformation” and are able to generate trust “because they say ‘I’m going to make things happen for you’”.

While only a few such candidates were elected at the last local elections, she said “they have more impact than their electoral success”.

“I'd say just from spending time in communities, I'd say they have more influence because they're constantly on social media, they're generating misinformation about migrants or asylum seekers or direct provision or whatever they're trying to whip up,” she said.

“That doesn't mean that their influence isn't outsized for the representation that they have, especially in a local area.” 

Dr Cohen, when asked why it may be “liberal democratic values” are in decline in more disadvantaged areas, said it was a “disconnect from politics”.

“I think it’s more that they feel like the political class are not responding fast enough or taking them seriously enough,” she said.

Dr Cohen added an objective of her group was to reduce the gap between the public and politicians and demonstrate democracy works for everyone.

Labour TD Brendan Howlin, who noted he was sitting in what would be his last committee hearing before he steps down at the next general election after 42 years in the Dáil, told Dr Cohen he disagreed with the sentiment on the Government not trusting working-class communities.

“It’s a very profound statement, but I don’t think it’s representative,” he said. “My constituency office is in the heart of working-class Wexford.

“I’m obviously not representative of Government, but I think there is an intimacy between politicians [and communities] in Ireland that is almost unique in my experience. Because our electoral system that requires people to go and put a mark directly opposite a named candidate as opposed to simply voting for a party.” 

Mr Howlin also said there had been a real issue in the “noticeable change” in public attitudes post-covid.

It's the rise of the right, the questioning of truth, the establishment of alternative truth, and people cocooning themselves in their own perspective to be reinforced. 

“And the question for democratic politics is, how do we overcome that?”

Fianna Fáil’s Seán Haughey, who is also set to retire from politics, queried why such voter disaffection was being seen in disadvantaged areas.

“I have disadvantaged areas in my constituency, and I understand the issues,” he said. “Over the years, we’ve tried different things with Government, investment and refurbishment of Darndale, for example.

“Different schemes have come and gone and nothing ever seems to work. I can’t say ‘we didn’t try’. Although things have improved compared to 40 years ago.”

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Meanwhile, Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú said disengagement with politics had been amplified by social media and more needed to be done to identify this and engage in working-class areas.

“The social media companies have been utterly disgraceful in relation to what they allow on,” he added. "And they make money out of it so it's happy days [for them], but this has an impact."