Dungarvan residents say local hotel is 'inappropriate for refugees'

Ireland needs to live up to its commitments to provide a safe haven for refugees, according to a group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

They say the European Union has been taking too long to act on commitments to resettle thousands of refugees.

The group says Ireland should invite 22,000 refugees to come here, far more than the 4,000 the Government has currently committed to resettling.

The group has also warned that there will be no military solution to the wars in the Middle East, less than a week after the UK started bombing Islamic State targets in Syria.

An emergency meeting of up to 50 business people was held in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, last night over plans by the Department of Justice to locate around 100 refugees in the nearby Clonea Strand Hotel.

Several business people, county councillors and locals say the area is inappropriate for refugees.

They voiced concern that their placement at the local tourist spot will have a negative impact on local business.

One man said that he does not "like them being housed on my doorstep".

The hotel's website says it is closed this year, but will reopen next May.