Gerry Hutch comments on immigration

Gerry Hutch’s remarks about immigrants emerged from a campaign video recorded during the Dublin Central by-election and quickly became a political flashpoint in Ireland. The comments, made at a public event at Corinthians Boxing Club in Dublin’s north inner city and reported on May 4, were condemned by rival candidates and by asylum seeker advocates. Hutch later rejected claims that he was racist and said he had apologized if anything he said was racist. The row has continued to reverberate in the final stretch of the campaign before the May 22 vote. ### What exactly did Hutch say in the campaign video? The Journal reported on May 4 that Hutch, responding to questions from Dublin councillor Gavin Pepper in a filmed exchange, said people he described as “illegal immigrants” should be “all interned.” The same report said Hutch added that they should be “put in the Curragh Camp, in camps, until they’re sorted,” and said they should be fed but not given money or housing. (thejournal.ie) The Journal also reported that Hutch distinguished between people he described as “genuine” workers and others seeking protection, saying foreign nationals were needed for some jobs. The outlet said the comments were made at a public campaign event a day earlier as Hutch campaigned in the Dublin Central by-election. ### Who condemned the remarks first? (thejournal.ie) Lucky Khambule, co-founder of the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, told The Journal the comments were “really upsetting” and showed “complete disregard” for human beings. The group said it “strongly condemned” Hutch’s remarks and noted that seeking asylum in Ireland is legal. Janet Horner, a Green Party rival in the by-election, accused Hutch of using “hurtful soundbites,” the Irish Independent reported on May 4. (thejournal.ie) BreakingNews.ie separately reported that Horner said the remarks were “straight out of the Donald Trump playbook” and described them as “prejudiced” and “harmful.” ### Did Hutch respond after the backlash? The Irish Times reported on May 7 that Hutch rejected accusations of racism and said: “I have friends – Indians, blacks, whites.” According to the report, he also said: “If I said something that was racist, I apologise.” BreakingNews.ie later reported that Hutch had apologised for the comments while insisting he was not a racist. That report said his remarks had also been echoed in anti-migrant discussion online, including in a public Facebook group. (independent.ie) ### Why did the comments spread again this week? BreakingNews.ie said on May 12 that Hutch’s remarks had become part of a wider debate about anti-immigrant rhetoric in Irish politics after posts in a far-right Facebook group cited his comments. (irishtimes.com) The report said some responses in that group contained racist slurs and came from users listing jobs in education and the civil service. (breakingnews.ie) Irish media coverage also kept the issue in circulation through the week. The Irish Times immigration index on May 15 listed multiple follow-up reports on Hutch’s comments, his rejection of racism allegations and the broader by-election debate over immigration. ### How does this fit into the by-election campaign? The Irish Times reported on May 14 that Hutch was running third in a poll for the Dublin Central by-election, behind Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan and Social Democrats candidate Daniel Ennis. (breakingnews.ie) The poll suggested several candidates remained in contention as the campaign entered its final week. (irishtimes.com) The Dublin Central by-election is scheduled for May 22. The contest was triggered by the vacancy left by Paschal Donohoe, and Hutch remains on the ballot as campaigning continues. (en.wikipedia.org) (irishtimes.com)