Ryan says no area should be ‘overburdened’ by refugee accommodation

It is important that “no one area is overburdened” in accommodating asylum seekers, Transport and Climate minister Eamon Ryan has said.

There are currently more than 500 asylum seekers who are not in receipt of state-provided shelter.

Mr Ryan said it was accurate to say that some areas have been asked to take in more international protection applicants than others.

He said “no-one can disagree” that some areas have a far higher percentage of asylum seekers, “but shutting the doors, saying ‘Ireland is full’, that is not a viable, correct or appropriate response and option”.

There have been several arson attacks across the country at places believed to be selected for use by refugees, asylum seekers or the homeless.

The Green Party leader said he would like to see the “full rigours of the laws applied” to the arson cases, and to blockades of such centres, which he described as “not legal”.

The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin said on Wednesday that “everyone loses out” when properties that are to be used for asylum seekers are targeted.

Referring to a former pub in Ringsend that had been earmarked for accommodation for the homeless, Archbishop Michael Jackson called on people to support those in need of food and shelter.

“Nothing wholesome is achieved by such activity. It contributes nothing to our self-understanding as a society of kindness and respect. Everyone loses out, most of all the vulnerable and those who are struggling.

“We have just celebrated Christmas, when we mark as a national community the coming of the child of Bethlehem in a state of homelessness and in an arena of oppression.

“We are into a new year which always holds unexpected opportunities for good. My appeal is that we rally round those without food and shelter, whatever their place of origin, in these dark days of winter.”

Mr Ryan said Ireland has obligations under international law to provide refuge to asylum seekers where appropriate.

He was speaking after 14 migrants were discovered inside a refrigerated container at Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford.

His Green Party colleague Roderic O’Gorman holds the integration portfolio and Mr Ryan said the State needs to own “far larger” accommodation centres, rather than relying on the private sector to provide facilities.

Speaking to RTE’s Morning Ireland programme, he added: “We need to manage and look medium to long term in how we do this in a way that is co-ordinated and safe, respects local communities.

“Yes, it will evolve and part of that is making sure that no one area has an overconcentration of the number of centres.”

Mr Ryan said the Department of Integration did not give in to the demands of protesters when it changed its plans for a hotel initially earmarked to accommodate 50 male asylum seekers.

Earlier this week, the department announced that it intends to accommodate families including children at the site instead.

It is intended that up to 50 people in need of shelter will be accommodated at JJ Gannon’s Hotel in Ballinrobe.

A briefing document on the initial plans to house male asylum seekers was issued to local TDs, senators and councillors last Thursday.

On Friday, a protest against the plan formed outside the hotel and continued through to Monday until the department changed its decision on who would be accommodated there.

Asked why the department made the decision, he said: “We have families we need to house. This is literally, week by week, a real challenge.”

Mr Ryan said there is a shortage of accommodation and Mr O’Gorman had told him there was an immediate challenge to house families.

It was put to the minister that there was already a situation that families needed to be housed when the department initially said 50 men would be accommodated in the Ballinrobe hotel and that it had now given in to the demands of the protesters.

He replied: “That’s the wrong conclusion, I’m absolutely convinced of that.”

Mr Ryan said a particular immediate demand to house families in the hotel arose.