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Wednesday 7 June 2023 Dublin: 11°C

# Asylum Seekers

Last week
28th May 2023 - 3rd June 2023
# INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION
Irish officials to review 'safe countries of origin' designation on 8 nations within next year
The designation applies to countries deemed to be safe for the purposes of asylum applications.
# accommodation crisis
Seven vacant nursing homes mooted for 600 refugee beds but block on converting continues
Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall believes the Government has enabled a situation where nursing homes and the accommodation crisis are ‘pitted against each other’.
A review on the ban to stop nursing home operators from converting their facilities into emergency accommodation says a two-year obstruction should remain in place.
It leaves the departments of health and integration at loggerheads as each deals with a mounting crisis.
'Where will mum go?' Families panic following Cork nursing home's Fair Deal exit
Floatel accommodation is now a 'serious strand' of policy but is still 'months away'
Last month
May 2023
# INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION
Ireland may 'fall short' on human rights obligations over lack of accommodation for refugees
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that the Government was “working tirelessly” to resolve the situation.
# Asylum Seekers
O'Gorman: 'Disturbing' that anti-immigration protesters are 'wrapping themselves in the tricolour'
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has described some recent protests outside asylum seeker accommodation as wrong.
# Asylum Seekers
Minister says ‘floatels’ are being looked at to house refugees
The Department of Integration had ruled out using cruise liners but a smaller ‘floatel’ concept could work, Roderic O’Gorman said.
# anti-immigration protests
Simon Harris: 'It's not for any of us' to question decisions of Gardaí on the ground at protests
The Justice Minister said that he has full confidence in members of the Gardaí to implement the law when policing protests.
# Famine
Ireland has a moral duty to those seeking asylum, says President Higgins
‘The parallels with An Gorta Mór and the mass displacement it caused 175 years ago must not be lost on us,’ Higgins said.
# Inch
Minister welcomes end of blockade at hotel housing asylum seekers in Co Clare
The Minister said he would revisit Magowna House again in four weeks time.
# Asylum Seekers
Minister tells locals 'no additional' asylum seekers will be housed at Clare hotel in next four weeks
Joe O’Brien met with a delegation of locals who have been protesting outside Magowna House in Inch, Co Clare this evening.
Ministers met with Garda management this evening to discuss how protests have been policed and migrants can be protected.
One Green Party TD says there has been a 'growing' tolerating of violence and intimidation by gardaí, and that management must explain its policing strategy.
Three new accommodation centres for asylum seekers are set to open in Dublin, as the Government scrambles to house international protection applicants sleeping rough.
Clare locals protesting housing of asylum seekers 'disappointed' at government response
'Horror' after Clare protesters board bus to conduct 'headcount of asylum seekers'
# Social Democrats
Cairns clarifies speech criticising lack of engagement with Clare community blockading hotel
The leader of the Social Democrats made a statement on Twitter this afternoon.
# Inch
Clare locals protesting housing of asylum seekers 'disappointed' at government response
The group say they will continue to protest “peacefully”.
# Magowna House
'Horror' after Clare protesters board bus to conduct 'headcount of asylum seekers'
Protests have taken place at Magowna House hotel in Inch, Co Clare, after over 30 assylum seekers were moved into holiday homes there this week.
# Inch
O'Gorman says Clare hotel 'has to be used' to house asylum seekers due to lack of accommodation
Tánaiste Micheál Martin told reporters this afternoon that the asylum seekers are “not a threat to society”.
# Inch
Taoiseach says 'no need' for protests at refugee housing, after blockade by Clare locals
The dispute centres around Magowna House in Inch, where around 34 asylum seekers arrived yesterday evening.
# accommodation crisis
Taoiseach 'horrified' by burning of refugee tents as ministers to meet gardaí over protests
Migrant groups have expressed grave concern for the safety of asylum seekers sleeping rough.
A makeshift camp for migrants on Dublin's Sandwith Street was torched on Friday night amid demonstrations.
Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman said people have the right to protest but not to 'intimidate'.
The Green Party TD said 180 beds will become available to be offered to migrants in the coming days.
# Homelessness
Irish Refugee Council has 'grave concerns' for safety of asylum seekers living in tents
The council said it is “no longer tenable” for those living in tents to not be offered supports ‘because of their status and country of origin”.
# Sandwith Street
Taoiseach condemns 'violence unreservedly' after tents set on fire at homeless refugee camp
A large garda presence on the street this evening was met with anger by some protestors.
This year
2023
# direct provision
Nine people died in asylum seeker accommodation in Ireland last year, highest figure since 2008
That’s according to data from the International Protection Accommodation Services.
# INspections
Hiqa to begin inspections of Direct Provision centres this year after campaign by rights groups
Inspections are currently carried out by an independent company QTS Ltd.
THE MORNING LEAD
Mullingar: Anti-migrant protests see allegations of 'intimidation' against refugees and locals
A report by
Eoghan Dalton
Protests over the use of a barracks in Mullingar have intensified over the past week even as protester numbers have fallen.
Protests against emergency refugee accommodation have led to locals, workers at the site and asylum seekers being followed and recorded.
There were also suggestions that an individual garda should be targeted following his policing of a protest.
Local and national groups supporting migrants have called the actions 'shameful' and 'disgusting'.
# Columb Barracks
Justice minister says anti-asylum seeker demonstration in Mullingar was 'effort to intimidate'
The government recently decided to use Columb Barracks, which has been closed for several years, to temporarily house asylum seekers.
# impact report
355 asylum seekers are currently without accommodation, says Irish Refugee Council
The charity said the figure shows ‘a further deterioration in the rights of people seeking protection’.
# Mullingar
Man arrested and Garda injured after demonstration at asylum seeker accommodation
At around 9pm last night, a number of protestors blocked an entrance to Columb Barracks in Mullingar.
THE MORNING LEAD
'It's relentless': The toll of online abuse on community groups supporting asylum seekers
A report by
Jane Moore
One local activist told The Journal that some of what is being said is “intimidation and just outright lies”.
Voices
FactCheck newsletter: Despite Covid's lessons about fake news, history is now repeating itself
The anti-migrant playbook is almost identical to how things unfolded in early 2020.
# Refugees
€20m signed off on for refugee accommodation plans, with commercial properties being considered
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said it is“impossible to say” whether the plan is enough.
# Refugees
Cabinet set to approve millions of euro to fund refugee accommodation
It’s understood another facility similar to that of Citywest is being finalised for use.
# tommy robinson
Sinn Féin TD says there's 'no place on the streets' for Tommy Robinson in Ireland
Robinson confirmed that he was in Ireland in a video on social media.
# ballyfermot cherry orchard for all
'This is the real Ballyfermot': Local community group forms to show solidarity after protests
Ballyfermot Cherry Orchard For All is the latest community group to form in the wake of protests that have occurred in recent months.
# merseyside
Teenager arrested following protest outside Merseyside asylum seeker hotel to appear in court
Jarad Skeete, 19, of Aigburth, Liverpool, will appear today at Wirral Adult Remand Court.
# Leo Varadkar
Taoiseach wants time to process asylum seekers cut down to less than 12 weeks
Leo Varadkar said that the Govt needed to take a “fair and firm and hard” approach to migration.
# Asylum Seekers
Refugees from 'safe' countries must have their cases heard fairly, says immigration lawyer
Junior Minister Sean Fleming also said that people coming from countries deemed safe may have genuine reason to seek asylum.
# East Wall
'Now I'm included': Asylum seekers in East Wall taking part in community classes and groups
The East Wall Here For All group has started hosting workshops to help asylum seekers learn English and meet other people in the area.
# Asylum Seekers
EU agrees tougher rules for failed asylum-seekers as leaders call for border surveillance
The measures are a response to increasing European concern over rising irregular immigration.
# factcheck
Debunked: Video of fire does not show building contracted to house asylum seekers
Police are investigating whether misinformation incited the attack
Mary Lou McDonald: Direct anger at Government, not refugees
Multiple protests have been held in recent weeks in areas where refugees or asylum seekers have been accommodated.
THE MORNING LEAD
Far right protesters aren't just in it for the cause - there's also money to be made
A report by
Eimer McAuley
One agitator asks his followers for support to cover travel and other expenses related to the protests.
Anti-immigration activists monetise their YouTube accounts and ask for donations, reports Eimer McAuley.
Experts say the tactics are imported from abroad but the levels of profit are small at present.
# Simon Harris
Harris says decision-making process for those seeking asylum will be accelerated
People seeking asylum will have decisions on their application made more quickly, the justice minister said.
# demostrations
Varadkar on protests against refugees: 'We should know better. It's not the Irish way'
The Taoiseach said refugees genuinely fleeing war and oppression are welcome here.
# factcheck
Debunked: No, ‘100,000 unvetted foreign nationals’ did not receive free accommodation in a year
Figures for people applying for asylum in Ireland are publicly available… and not nearly that high.