Taoiseach warns damage to properties earmarked for asylum seekers will not be tolerated

Leo Varadkar said there will be no tolerance for damage to property or stopping people from doing the work they are paid to do.

The Taoiseach has warned there will be no tolerance for those damaging properties to prevent them from being used for asylum seekers.

Tensions continue to rise relating to the number of international protection applicants in the country, with anti-immigration protesters now targeting property owners and disrupting builders working to prepare centres. 

Some protesters have told the Irish Examiner they will continue to target builders and property owners to stop asylum seekers from moving in.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said that there must be an assessment of security for asylum-seeker accommodation centres, while Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has also said property owners have a responsibility to offer security.

Speaking in Mexico, Mr Martin said groups of people cannot take the law into their own hands and commit crimes such as burning properties, creating a danger to life.

He said: "Certainly we do have to assess the security situation concerning any facility like this because we live in a democracy, we live by the rule of law.”

He added that the attacks were a "fundamental" violation of the human rights of asylum seekers.

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Mr Varadkar said there will be no tolerance for damage to property or stopping people from doing the work that they are paid to do.

He said: “The gardaí are aware, it’s something I have spoken to [Justice] Minister [Helen] McEntee about, the gardaí of course have a role in preventing crime and investigating crimes where they occur.

“And yes, people who own a building or own premises do have some responsibility for their own security as well too,” the Taoiseach said.

Unite regional and industrial organiser Brian Hewitt hit out at anti-immigration protesters who disrupt builders and said they are doing the country a disservice. 

He said builders are trying to make an honest living and it is of no concern to them who moves into the building.

In a move by the Taoiseach to offer clarification on the process of the State's asylum-seeker process, he sought to dispel what he described as mainstream myths.

He said one of those myths is that Ireland has open borders and that is not the case and there are also robust checks at airports and ports across the country.

Rosslare discovery

It comes as investigations into the discovery of 14 people, including two children, in a refrigerated truck in Rosslare continue.

The discovery was made at around 3am on Monday. 

Gardaí are investigating all circumstances relating to the incident, the details of which emerged on Tuesday evening.

The lorry had arrived from France and the terminal building at the port was taken over by emergency services during the early hours of Monday.

Nine men, three women, and two girls were assessed by medical personnel.

It is understood they have been transferred for processing by the international protection service.

Mr Varadkar said humanitarian support was being provided.

“Our next step now is to facilitate voluntary return to their return home if they're willing to go home, and if they choose to apply for asylum, they are legally entitled to do that, we'll try and process the application as quickly as possible," he said.

Ms McEntee said it was "fortuitous" that no deaths had been reported.

"We know from past experience that similar situations have led to tragic fatalities. 

"This was an extremely hazardous undertaking and it is only fortuitous that the same did not happen," she said.