Varadkar defends moving asylum seekers to site of previous anti-migrant protests
Crooksling The Street Mount Morning Farrell/rollingnews Dublin This Eamonn Ie Refugees Outside At Protesters Where Were Centre Village The Picture: Tented Lr Taken From
The Taoiseach has defended a decision to move international protection applicants staying in tents in Dublin City to a site in Crooksling.
The dismantling of the 'tent city' has been slammed as an "irresponsible ploy by the government to remove the embarrassing spectacle of a refugee encampment" in the centre of Dublin on St Patrick's weekend.
However, speaking in Washington, Leo Varadkar said: “The reason why they were moved was essentially that there wasn't any sanitary facilities. There were no showers, no toilets.”
He said the decision to move them was made for health and safety reasons.
“To me, being provided with accommodation, where there's running water, where there are showers, where there's toilets is better than living on the streets.”
Asked about the fact that the new location has previously seen anti-migrant protests outside it, the Taoiseach said: “Well, the reason why it was chosen is because it's state-owned, and it was available.”
He added: “Unfortunately, there are protests and there's risks everywhere.
“Unfortunately, no matter where people are, there's going to be certain risks but obviously, security measures are put in place as well.”
It's understood that after the men arrived at the new site, a protest took place outside on the road.
"Gardaí attended the scene of a public gathering earlier today in the Crooksling area of Dublin 24. All persons present later dispersed without incident," a Garda spokesman said.
Donna Cooney, a Green Party councillor in Dublin, said there were also reports that some of the men had left the Mount St area to attend mosque services and missed the transport to Crooksling because they were never told that buses were coming.
Volunteers present at the encampment on Friday were also not aware of the planned move, she said.
She warned some people with lower levels of English may not understand what is happening, and called for better communication – saying this has been happening in other areas.
The Irish Refugee Council has criticised the decision to move hundreds of asylum seekers to a remote site as “an attempt to place people out of sight, out of mind” by the government.
Volunteers who have been supporting the men on Mount St have accused the government of being irresponsible.
Social Rights Ireland said: “This is a cynical and profoundly irresponsible ploy by the government to remove the embarrassing spectacle of a refugee encampment from the centre of the city on St Patrick’s weekend, when many tourists are visiting Dublin.”