State agencies have moved asylum seekers for the second time in as many weeks from tented areas in the heart of Dublin. Initially, 285 men from a long-standing settlement at the International Protection Office on Mount Street were relocated to different shelters, followed by a second operation to rehome individuals residing in over 100 tents along the Grand Canal.
This comes as the government grapples with the ongoing crisis surrounding refugee and asylum accommodation. Amidst growing concerns regarding the evident record high arrivals of asylum seekers, government insiders revealed that over 600 new arrivals were recorded last week, inclusive of family units. Usually, this number of refugees would take around two months to arrive.
A key part of the short-term solution is to offer alternative tented accommodation sites for these newly arrived asylum seekers. Senior officials are keen to significantly expand such options, with Crooksling in southwest Dublin among the potential sites. However, the government, guided by a board led by ex-senior civil servant Catherine Day, is actively seeking to phase out this type of temporary private sector accommodation, which is often below par.
In addition to this, tentative plans are in place to extend the list of safe countries by up to eight, while the search is on for office buildings and units to be refurbished and used as accommodation.
Despite the actions already taken and plans in place, it’s clear that the crisis in refugee and asylum seeker accommodation is far from over, leading to speculation that refugees may set up more tents elsewhere in the city centre in the near future.
Miriam Lord’s Dáil critique scrutinises Taoiseach’s criticism of Sinn Féin’s immigration policy and the party’s election materials suggesting their rejection of open borders. Acting Europe Correspondent, Jack Power, provides an overview on the contingency roster for the European elections, which consist of nominees from political parties and Independent candidates who may replace any outgoing European Parliament member during the five-year term. For example, current MEPs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly, both seeking re-election from the South and Dublin constituencies, respectively, have listed each other as priority replacements.
Jack Horgan-Jones disclosed that Micheál Martin, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, has updated the Green Party members on Ireland’s advancing plans to acknowledge Palestinian statehood in the forthcoming weeks, and its intention to endorse its UN membership on Friday.
Earlier, Eoin Ó Broin, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for housing, joined the Inside Politics podcast to discuss the reasons behind dropping support for the party in recent surveys and shared their proposed solutions to the housing dilemma.
Agenda:
This morning, the Green Party will introduce its local election manifesto.
From 9am, Heather Humphreys, Minister for Rural Development, will field Parliamentary Questions in the Dáil.
Micheál Martin, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, will follow at 10:30am.
Leaders’ Questions will start at midday.
Government Business topic is updates on special education provision advancements.
An Independent Group will instigate a discussion about the trials faced by the childcare and nursing home sectors.
MPs will get an opportunity to address current topics starting from 7:18pm.
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister of State for European Affairs, will be in Seanad for pronouncements in tribute to Europe Day at 12:15pm.
Public Accounts Committee of the Dáil will hear from representatives of University of Limerick regarding governance and due diligence matters related to the 2019 city centre site purchase by the university, starting from 9:30 am.
At 1:30 pm, the Public Petitions Committee will review various petitions, including a plea for a Citizens’ Assembly on the Irish justice system, policing, crime, and rehabilitation.
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