Cork City poll-topper Ken O'Flynn backs immigration stance

Former Fianna Fáil councillor, now a member of Independent Ireland, was elected on the first count in the Cork City north east LEA

Ken O'Flynn celebrates with supporters as he was deemed elected on the first count at Cork City Hall on Saturday. Picture: Larry Cummins

The man who won the highest vote in Cork City said the result proves that his “common sense politics” approach has resonated with voters.

Independent Ireland councillor Ken O’Flynn, who has been a city councillor for 16 years, was speaking after he retained his seat in the Cork City Council north east local electoral area with over 3,134 first preference votes on the first count — more than 1,100 above the quota.

A former Fianna Fáil councillor-turned Independent, he joined Independent Ireland last March — the party founded last November by Cork South West TD Michael Collins and Limerick TD Richard O’Donoghue.

He has called for greater controls on immigration and he was one of just three city councillors last month to vote against the €18m Traveller housing scheme for the Spring Lane halting site in Ballyvolane.

Speaking after his re-election, he said: “My message to the people for the last six years has been very, very simple. It’s about common-sense politics.

I’ve always believed that immigration is a serious problem in this country. I’m on the record going back 18 months talking about immigration, and the problems.

“I predicted this. I predicted the catastrophe.

“I knew a government that couldn’t look after 14,000 homeless Irish people, 4,000 homeless Irish children, could certainly not look after 100,000 people coming in, plus all the undocumented."

He said that, as a gay man, married to a Spanish man, he doesn’t have a problem with foreign people coming into Ireland.

“But I am not protesting outside libraries, or outside direct provision centres. I don't believe that’s the right way to go," he said. “I am concerned about the management of all of this. I am deeply concerned about people entering the country who tear up their passports.

“I am speaking common sense, and speaking out and reflecting the views of the people I’m speaking talking to, day in, day out.

All I’m simply doing, which is the correct thing to do, is verbalising what people are telling me.  

 He said certain far right candidates have adopted a certain approach or strategy in their bid to attract voters — an approach he said he doesn’t agree with.

“I believe in a common-sense approach. I don’t believe in hate for the sake of hate,” he said.

“I like to fact-check things. I like to know where people stand, and to come up with solutions. I am a solutions-driven candidate. 

Some people might not like the solutions that I come up with but some patients out there don’t like the medicine they are prescribed.

He also confirmed that he plans to run in the next general election.

“I have already indicated to Independent Ireland that I am willing to be the Dáil candidate for Cork North-Central,” he said.

“We are proactively looking for office space in Mallow but we will be keeping the Mallow Road, Blackpool office open.”