McEntee denies claims that the Government has 'backed down' in the face of anti-migrant protests
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has denied that the Government “backed down” in the face of protests in Ballinrobe and Carlow with regard to accommodation for male asylum seekers.
Providing accommodation for women and families was the “first priority” which unfortunately meant that in some circumstances there was no accommodation for male international protection applicants, she told .
Ms McEntee also said she had “every confidence” in the gardaí who were pursuing a number of lines of investigation into arson attacks in Galway and Dublin on premises that were believed to be providing accommodation for male applicants.
“We are doing everything we can to respond to a very challenging situation. We want to provide a roof over everyone’s head.”
She also rejected suggestions that the Department of Integration had reversed plans to house male asylum seekers at two centres.
There have been no arrests for suspected arson attacks at such centres dating back several years.
Most recently, a blaze engulfed a disused hotel where international protection applicants were set to be housed.
The property at Rosscahill in Co Galway was badly damaged by the the fire in December, days before it was due to accommodate 70 asylum seekers.
Speaking on Thursday, Ms McEntee said “very strong lines of inquiry” are under way for the Galway incident and one in Ringsend, Dublin.
“The Garda Commissioner has absolutely assured me that those who are responsible will be held accountable.”
She did not give a timeframe for when arrests would happen.
Speaking to radio programme, Ms McEntee said asylum seekers need to be “evenly distributed” around the country.
However, she said she did not have a “clear picture” of whether that was currently happening.
She said some counties have had a “higher intake” than others.
“The way this is done is where accommodation is available, it’s not looking at per population in each area.”
The numbers seeking international protection had increased significantly over the last two years in Ireland and across Europe.
Ireland needed to be able to respond in the “most effective way possible.
”The Government’s response will be that if people have a right to be in the country they will be provided with protection and if they don’t “that we're firm and that they're asked to leave,” she said.
There had been a lot of misinformation, added Ms McEntee.
“There’s a suggestion that we have a significantly higher proportion of people seeking international protection here in Ireland. We don't have, that’s not the case here. We represent about 1.3 percent of the European population, the international protection factor is about 1.17 percent.
“We're always trying to improve our system, to make sure people get their decisions as quickly as possible. But everybody's unique. So we can't say why any one person is getting it over the other.”
Asked if there would be greater protection of centres for international protection applicants, the minister said that gardai engage with providers about what they can do to provide safety and security.
However, she added: “There cannot be a situation where gardai are standing outside.”
Ms McEntee also suggested being interviewed on the topic was “giving legitimacy” to the arson attacks.
“I have to say at the outset, even having this conversation around the arson attacks and the overall migration conversation, is giving a legitimacy to what has happened.”
The Government has faced criticism for alleged u-turns on plans to house male asylum seekers at two properties in other parts of the country following protests.
While acknowledging a shortage of accommodation for single male refugees, Ms McEntee said she would not characterise the changes as reversals as the Government had always said it would prioritise women and children.
“I would say that it is Government doing everything that we can to put a roof over the heads of everybody who seeks international protection.
“But we have been very clear that we must prioritise women and families and so the spaces that you mentioned are not idle, there’s not a vacancy there.”
On Monday, the Department of Integration scrapped plans to house 50 male asylum seekers at a former hotel in Co Mayo.
There had been a protest outside JJ Gannon’s Hotel in Ballinrobe when the initial plan was announced.
The department said it now intends to accommodate families including children at the site instead.
Days later, a Government TD said the department similarly reversed a plan to house 50 male international protection applicants in Co Carlow.
On the same programme, Fianna Fail TD Jennifer Murnane O’Connor refused to say whether she joined a protest outside that site at the Capuchin Friary in Carlow town, which is in her constituency.
She said she contacted the department because she “needed to know” the ages of the men and whether they had been vetted.
Asked if she was personally against male asylum seekers being housed in the friary, she said: “I am there to represent everybody.”
Further asked if she had joined the protest, Ms Murnane O’Connor said: “I will speak to everybody that was protesting there.”
On Wednesday, the deputy had posted on her Facebook page: “Following extensive talks with the department, I can now confirm that the Capuchin Guest Accommodation will be used to house families.”
She had earlier said she shared “major concern” about the area’s ability to support “large numbers of refugees”.
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