LAST UPDATE | 9 May 2024

THE PLACING OF barriers in Dublin City to prevent asylum seekers from placing tents on Mount Street and the Grand Canal has been described as a “monstrosity” and a “sick joke”. 

Last week, barriers were placed along Mount Street, while this morning a series of barriers were erected along a stretch of the Grand Canal after around 100 tents belonging to asylum seekers were removed.

In a post on X this afternoon, Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon questioned whether the barriers are Fine Gael’s “version of law and order”. 

“Remove these monstrosities from our city,” Gannon said.

Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin also posted on X, saying: “Is this a sick joke? Do FG consider this a job well done? They genuinely haven’t a clue.” 

Is this a sick joke?

Do FG consider this a job well done?

They genuinely haven’t a clue. https://t.co/tuZAzl0nXe

— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (@AodhanORiordain) May 9, 2024

Speaking to reporters at Government Buildings this morning, 

Harris said that “barriering off” parts of the city will not form part of a long-term response to the increase in the number of unaccommodated asylum seekers, but that it can be a requirement in the short-term.

“In the short-term that can be a requirement to say ‘this area has been cleared, this area has been sanitised and people have been accommodated and now tents can’t come back.”

Barriers erected last week on Mount Street © RollingNews.ie © RollingNews.ie

When asked to define “short-term”, Harris said: “I don’t know the answer to that because it will depend on the views of both the gardaí and the city council in relation to this.”

When it was put to him that this could be a number of months he said: “I certainly wouldn’t expect that to be the case.” 

When asked on RTÉ’s News at One today if more barriers will be erected in Dublin City to prevent tents being placed, Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman said “we will deal with situations as they come about”. 

With reporting by Hayley Halpin