‘I’m shocked at hearing people use the N-word’ – politicians alarmed at rising rhetoric and abuse while out canvassing

Politicians from across the political spectrum are alarmed at the number of “middle Ireland” voters now using anti-immigration rhetoric.

Canvassing for the upcoming local and European elections, they have noticed the topic of migration come up more often in recent weeks.

Many TDs have said they steer away from publicly talking about accommodation in their constituencies being designated for housing because of the sheer volume of abuse they receive in return.

And a government party senator has told how he was encircled by angry protesters at a site of proposed asylum-seeker accommodation in their constituency.

The senator said he “felt vulnerable” – and wondered “how am I going to get out of here?”.

The protesters filmed the politician with their phones, called him a traitor and the crowd was “riled up”.

“It was scary. It was the first time I feared for my life,” he said.

The politician is reluctant to speak on the record because he says public comments would be just a “lightning rod” for further abuse, adding: “I don’t want to put my head above the parapet.”

It is a sentiment that is ­increasingly being shared by politicians in Leinster House, both in opposition and in the Government.

“When I spoke up previously, I got absolutely torched,” said one TD.

There also has been a sizeable increase in the number of voters voicing concerns about the Government’s immigration policies.

Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe said he had seen voters who would normally be middle-ground repeat concerns “straight off” social media.

“There has been a political reluctance to talk about our refugee system on social media,” he said. “That has left a real void on social media platforms. You instantly become involved in a pile-on with extreme accounts that would never have voted for you and are often from other parts of the world.

“So most politicians haven’t said much publicly on this. That’s coming through on the doors. I’ve heard people repeat stuff that’s wrong, but it’s straight off social media [videos].”

Politicians also feared being viewed as racist if they voiced any concerns, the Dublin TD said.

“Let’s not kid ourselves, there is a small number of people who aren’t raising genuine concerns. I’ve been shocked by people using the ‘N-word’ on doors,” he said.

Mr McAuliffe said Fianna Fáil voters were from every walk of life and warned that politicians couldn’t “sit on the sideline for this, we need to get stuck in and have the debate”.

He believes the use of emergency planning laws in turning hotels into migrant housing should end.

“Communities have a right to make observations on development in their area. They don’t have a veto but if we give people no process to participate in, it’s another reason for them to listen to the extremes of the debate,” he said.

However, Labour councillor Darragh Moriarty said he had knocked on about 10,000 doors while canvassing but migration was rarely coming up.

He told how he met one “headcase” who was “racist and Islamophobic”.

“That’s one experience in 10,000 doors – so, overwhelmingly, it’s housing, how we’re going to get people housed,” he said.

Sinn Féin has considerably upped its canvassing in recent months. Since September, one source in the party estimates activists have knocked on up to 25,000 doors in one Dublin Dáil constituency.

Migration comes up on around 10pc of doors, with a “very, very small” number of people being “vehemently” against it.

“These are usually [people] not registered to vote or non-voters,” a source said.

Sinn Féin believes migration is not an issue that will solely dictate people’s votes, but that it is an issue of “public concern”. “It comes up at every canvass, absolutely,” said one TD.

Politically, immigration has become a hot topic in Leinster House. The mood at last week’s Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting was said to be “very downbeat”. Migration was a main talking point.

“Everyone was expressing deep reservations and worry that it is out of control,” said one politician present at the meeting.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin is believed to have told colleagues that the party will face significant challenges on migration going forward. He said more should have been done to support communities.

One minister told how a Nigerian woman, who has lived in Ireland for many years and holds an Irish passport, came to one of his constituency clinics in a local hall. When she was leaving, the minister noticed how people in the queue were eyeing her up and down.

“I could see the look of faces of regular punters when she walked out. I told them she had been living here a long time and holds an Irish passport,” said the minister. “But you can see how people are taking it all. It’s a big challenge for the Government.”

Get ahead of the day with the morning headlines at 7.30am and Fionnán Sheahan’s exclusive take on the day’s news every afternoon, with our free daily newsletter.