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The Port of Cork, which is in the early stages of discussions to host floatels Alamy Stock Photo

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.

MINISTER FOR INTEGRATION Roderic O’Gorman has said that his department is considering using accommodation aboard barges or moored ships, also known as “floatels”, to house people seeking international protection.

O’Gorman’s department ruled out the idea of housing Ukrainians in a luxury cruise ship at Dublin Port last summer, due to concerns that this would take up too much space at the port.

However, speaking to reporters today, the minister said that a smaller ‘floatel’ concept was much more workable.

“I wasn’t hugely knowledgeable about this nine months ago, but there’s a distinct difference between cruise liners and floatels,” O’Gorman admitted.

“Particularly because floatels have a shallower draft and are more flexible than cruise liners which can only be accommodated on a small number of places around Ireland, whereas floatels can be accommodated much more flexibly.”

“Our department is looking at floatels, in the context of the numbers we’re accommodating: 22,000 people across international protection (IP), 84,000 across IP in Ukraine. We do have to look at all options and floatels can offer safe accommodation for international protection,” he said.

One potential location for floatels is the Port of Cork, which has confirmed that it is engaged with talks with the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).

A statement from the Port of Cork Company read:

“Horgan’s Quay and Penrose Quay have been identified as possible locations, however these discussions are at a very early stage and any decisions as to the locations of any such facilities will be made by IPAS, in consultation with Cork City Council and the Port of Cork.”

The minister also added that his department was making significant progress on increasing the amount of accommodation but that demand was still high.

“We of course have people arriving as well. So that element is outside of our control. I think for now I would just say I hope to see significant further decreases over the next number of days.”

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    Mute John Naghten
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    Feb 10th 2019, 4:27 PM

    I bet the Chinese will have it copied before the Americans can produce it commercially

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    Mute Boyne Sharky
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    Feb 10th 2019, 4:31 PM

    @John Naghten: It’s probably made in China..

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Feb 10th 2019, 5:13 PM

    @John Naghten: or some MNC corporation like Nike will get their hands on it and manufacture jerseys in the east using child labour fo 2 euro a unit and then sell it in the west 85 euro each…oh hang on scrap that – they already do that with cotton.

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    Mute Skybloo
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    Feb 10th 2019, 7:47 PM

    @Boyne Sharky: it is now lol

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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Feb 10th 2019, 4:35 PM

    Metal in clothing? Gonna be some craic gong through airport scanners in a couple of years

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    Mute Mjhint
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    Feb 10th 2019, 4:15 PM

    environmental impact?

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    Mute John Horan
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    Feb 10th 2019, 4:21 PM

    @Mjhint: less need for heating or aircon in your home or workplace

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    Mute Mjhint
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    Feb 10th 2019, 6:16 PM

    @John Horan: the biggest polluters on the planet are those who make clothes particularly cheap clothes.

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    Mute Sean Murphy
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    Feb 10th 2019, 7:15 PM

    @Mjhint: no they’re not haha, farmers, especially those in the beed industry, are by far the biggest polluters. I can provide sources if you like.

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    Mute Sean Murphy
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    Feb 10th 2019, 7:16 PM

    Beef* oops not beed.

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    Mute Mjhint
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    Feb 10th 2019, 11:30 PM

    @Sean Murphy: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_fashion
    Farming? Where do you think the raw materials for clothes come from.

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    Mute David Daly
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    Feb 10th 2019, 4:37 PM

    That’s cool…..

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    Mute ED
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    Feb 11th 2019, 1:49 AM

    @David Daly: and also pretty hot

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    Mute Ken Loughman
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    Feb 10th 2019, 5:08 PM

    I hope it’s not like the fabric in the “The Man In The White Suit” where it will disintegrate after a while…

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    Mute Sean
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    Feb 10th 2019, 6:33 PM

    I know a guy who got very excited about “moisture wicking” clothes. He is going to lose his mind when he sees these!

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    Mute Greg Blake
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    Feb 10th 2019, 5:47 PM

    Em … Ireland … cold AND wet. Now, how to get around that.

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    Mute Jams O' Donnell
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    Feb 10th 2019, 5:38 PM

    Sounds like my wife. She certainly knows how to cool me down!

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