Bishop warns over public comment on asylum-seekers

The Bishop of Kerry, the Most Rev Dr Bill Murphy, has warned against irresponsible public comment on the issue of asylum-seekers. Dr Murphy, who includes the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, and the Independent TD, Mr Jackie Healy Rae, among his flock, also said that "attitudes of discrimination toward another person because of their ethnic background, colour or medical condition are inherently un-Christian and to be trenchantly condemned".

"There should be no public comments or statements in this sensitive and difficult debate that in any way contribute to such racist beliefs and prejudices," he said. Even the expression of genuine concerns and criticism of policy must not descend into playing on people's fear of difference.

Referring directly to those in public life, he said: "Public figures and leaders including those in ministry in the church have a profound responsibility in this regard and should be aware of how deeply they can influence and justify the attitudes of many people". He also condemned the restrictions on asylum-seekers working, which are strongly supported by the Minister for Justice. "At the moment their main problem is sheer boredom. The ban on work is looking increasingly like the wrong policy," he said.

Speaking in St Mary's Cathedral, Killarney, he said the integration of 106 nationalities of asylum-seekers posed enormous challenges for Ireland. "The potential for misunderstanding, misrepresentation, tension and conflict will be enormous," he said.

Speaking earlier this month Mr Healy Rae warned that there would be "civil rumpus" unless tougher policies on asylum-seekers were implemented immediately. He said he fully supported the deportation policy of his fellow South Kerry TD, the Minister for Justice. His view was that there were 80,000 asylum-seekers in the State, "20 times more than we are being told".

He was, he said, "100 per cent behind O'Donoghue to give them the road out of the country. The people who aren't here at all are the ones in right trouble. They can't get the big money to get in here. Where did the people who got here get the big money?"

He was firmly in favour of helping refugees who were genuine, "and I am not racist. But I am warning you, in six months' time you will be writing about civil rumpus in this country".