State must take 'compassionate but common sense' approach to asylum seekers – Simon Harris
Outgoing taoiseach Simon Harris meeting runners and community members at Runday Club Cork on Sunday morning. Picture: Fergal Phillips/PA
The government must take a “compassionate” but “common sense” approach to asylum seekers — with those who have jobs, but are housed in State-serviced accommodation, paying something reasonable towards their keep, according to Taoiseach Simon Harris.
He maintained these payments would be “means-tested and fair".
In Cork at the beginning of a general election campaign bus tour across the country on Sunday, Mr Harris said that the number of deportations of unsuccessful asylum applicants has risen this year, and he foresees there will be further increases in the coming years.
He then turned his attention to US president-elect Donald Trump and the possibility his tenure in the White House might have a negative impact on Ireland and its EU partners.
Mr Harris said the spectre of Trump carrying out his election promises of increasing US tariffs for imports present a possibility of “turmoil” for the EU.
Scroll for results in your area
He said we will need to see how Trump “translates his policies into action”, but maintained that the EU and the US need each other, and a summit should be scheduled shortly between the two sides to ensure cooperation.
The Taoiseach said that if there are negatives from Trump rule, this again emphasises the reason why Fine Gael set aside money in a ‘rainy day fund’ to provide against impacts to the Irish economy.
Meanwhile, Mr Harris rejected claims by Tánaiste Micheál Martin that gym memberships will be more costly in the future with a proposed rise in Vat for that sector from 9% to 11%.
He said that this will be offset by the “fact we have also said we're introducing a tax credit for gym membership worth €50".
“Let's say your gym memberships of €500 goes up to €509, if that changes. But it will come down by the €50 tax credit. So, gym membership costs will fall under the Fine Gael plan,” he said.
Mr Harris added that FG plans to cut PRSI employer contributions for companies with less than 50 workers will also aid gyms’ viability, with similar proposed cuts by his party designed to also help the hospitality sector.
The Taoiseach said that while he wouldn’t be setting a target, publicly, for the number of seats his party should win, he wants it to make gains and become the largest in the next Dáil.
He said transfers "will be vital", especially in gaining the ‘last over the line’ TDs in several constituencies.
“The people are sovereign, and we must fight for every vote, must knock on every door, look people in the whites of their eyes and ask for their trust and their vote. And then when the people make their decision, you then have those conversations about government formation,” he said.
A lot of his party’s candidates are first timers, and many are young, which he thinks this will bode Fine Gael well.
“We're going to work right up until 10pm on November 29. And I hope that when the ballot boxes open, we can gain seats, because I want to be in a position to lead the next government, but I can take nothing for granted,” he added.
Mr Harris said that, depending on the outcome of the election, he is willing to engage with all parties if a coalition is needed, apart from Sinn Féin.
He hosted a rally of Fine Gael Cork election candidates and party faithful at the Clayton Silver Springs Hotel convention centre on Sunday morning.
It was attended by more than 100 people before he departed for further canvassing in Limerick, Galway, Athlone, and Wicklow.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
