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Chairman apologises over worker remarks
By Gary McLaughlin and Gene Yore FOREIGN nationals living in Dundalk reacted furiously to comments that suggested they should be happy with less pay than Irish workers.
The comments were made by Louth County Council Chairman Jimmy Mulroy and following his remarks, incensed foreign Nationals in the town demanded that he 'should apologise' and 'quit blaming foreigners for everything'.
The Fianna Fil councillor made the comments during a debate on the abuse of workers by some employment agencies in a council meeting, something that shocked the crowd in attendance.
Cllr Mulroy said: "Irish people need €12.50 an hour, people from Lithuania are doing very well on €8.50 an hour."
He further risked the wrath of immigrants when he stood by his comments when he stated that many workers are "very happy with €10 an hour", the equivalent to a month's wages in their own country.
Immigrant workers, however, did not share his views, as many of them vented their anger the comments.
Kornelia Rybacka, a Polish native, who works in Devenney's, was not impressed with the Cllr's comments and said: "We should all be equal. I have a few friends working in places that are on less money than their co-workers but some employers are like that.
"It shouldn't be like that. It is not right, because some foreign workers are work very hard."
Her co-worker, Barbara Stajkowska took a similar stance as she said: "It's just not right. We all have the same rights. He should apologise for saying that. If he came in and told me that I should be earning less than him for the same work, I would be offended. I am very surprised to hear that."
One woman, from Zimbabwe called on the government to "stop blaming foreigners for everything."
Lungile said: "We are all the same. Your problems are the same as ours. I think that man should realise that. He should realise that all people are the same.
"Everything is the same price to people here. We pay the same price as Irish people for shopping and buses and everything else.
"Why should we get less money? Do they think people from our own country is sending us money because they are not.
"It seems blaming foreigners is a way of avoiding current issues. If the government wants to avoid an issue, they seem to blame foreigners and say if all foreigners were gone from the country, then people would be happy."
In the controversy that followed his comments, Cllr Mulroy later issued a statement apologising for his remarks. He said: "If any other interpretation was construed from my comments, I am deeply sorry.
"As Chairman of the County Council I hold a position of local responsibility. If my remarks caused offence or have taken from the position to which I am elected, I am deeply sorry."
Mulroy had been challenged by Sinn Fein councillor Kevin Meenan, who said,
"I was very shocked by what he said. I couldn't believe he was saying that.
"These people don't fly home at night. They stay here and live in a country that has a high a cost of living.
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Weather for Dundalk
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
