Taoiseach: Local communities must be consulted before refugees arrive

 Taoiseach Micheal Martin appealed to wider society to be welcoming.

Anti-refugee protests play into the hands of Russia, but local communities must be consulted on arrangements for housing new arrivals, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheál Martin was speaking after hundreds of people attended a protest in the East Wall area of Dublin, where a group of 80 asylum seekers arrived last week. Speakers at the protest included elements of Ireland's far-right, as well as a number of elected representatives.