A special meeting of Dublin City Council took place yesterday to discuss the “urgent and growing issue of misinformation, particularly regarding immigration and public safety”.
Independent councillor Barry Heneghan called for the meeting following a number of recent incidents, including one near a school in Finglas on October 4.
Gardaí issued a warning about “misinformation” spreading online after a young man began asking passersby for Wi-Fi access to contact a family member.
His request was misinterpreted, prompting a call to gardaí and the spread of misinformation online. Gardaí found no criminal activity and assisted the man in reaching his family.
“No criminal offence occurred, and An Garda Síochána is satisfied this person did not pose a threat to the public,” a garda spokesperson said.
Cllr Heneghan said the incident “highlighted how quickly false information can spread and create division”.
“The rise of misinformation, particularly around immigration and public safety, is deeply concerning,” he said.
“As public representatives, we must be held to the highest standard of truth. Misinformation, especially from elected officials, cannot be tolerated.
“Anyone spreading false information must publicly apologise and correct the record,” he added.
His motion, supported and passed by several councillors, outlined three key actions to address the issue:
– Clear and timely information on sensitive topics like immigration should be provided to the public.
– Local authorities must ensure accurate information is available before falsehoods take hold.
– Public representatives spreading harmful misinformation should face consequences.
“This is a simple step that will help restore trust in public discourse,” cllr Heneghan added. “Let’s make Dublin a city where truth prevails over fear and unity over division.”
Chief Executive Richard Shakespeare also addressed Dublin City Council’s “duty to eliminate discrimination and promote equality across all services we provide”.
“Dublin City Council is committed to upholding these standards and implementing our public sector duty action plan, which was published in 2019,” Mr Shakespeare said.
He also noted that DCC’s social media strategy emphasises appropriate use, discourages engagement with trolls, and seeks to provide factual, transparent communication and avoid spreading misinformation.
Councillor Colm O’Rourke also expressed his support, calling on elected representatives to “lead by example” and ensure their public office is held with the utmost respect.
“Politicians are the original influencers, and our actions have consequences,” cllr O’Rourke said.
He urged all councillors to communicate responsibly and ensure transparency with the public.
Social Democrats councillor Daniel Ennis shared his own personal experiences about the impact of misinformation on communities, especially those related to immigration centres.
Describing encounters at IPAS centres in his local area, cllr Ennis said: “The children asked at the time, ‘Why are they shouting at us?’
“It’s heartbreaking to see the division that misinformation has caused, but hate will never win because we are stronger,” he added.
While the meeting maintained a focus on combating misinformation, some councillors used the platform to voice broader frustrations.
Councillor Gavin Pepper criticised the Government for what he called “broken promises” in relation to immigration centres in working-class communities.
“The Government promised opposition parties consultations in relation to IPAS centres in working-class communities; those discussions never happened,” he said. “Misinformation, disinformation.”
Councillor Malachy Steenson echoed those sentiments, claiming misinformation had been perpetuated by various political parties and called for accountability from all sides.
His comments led to a heated exchange with other councillors, including Independents4Change’s Pat Dunne, who demanded a withdrawal of several accusations cllr Steenson made during the debate.
As the discussion drew to a close, Lord Mayor and Fine Gael councillor James Geoghegan urged everyone in the chamber to remember their responsibility as elected public representatives.
“If you are a public representative, please do not use your voice to stoke division and hate. It’s as simple as that,” cllr Geoghegan said.
