Encampment at Grand Canal not comparable to Mount Street's 'tent village'

The Taoiseach indicated that people would not be permitted to stay at the Grand Canal in the long term, saying a situation similar to Mount Street would not occur

The Taoiseach indicated that people would not be permitted to stay at the Grand Canal in the long term, saying a situation similar to Mount Street would not occur. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that an encampment of asylum seekers at the Grand Canal is not comparable to a previous ‘tent village’ on Mount Street, saying that it was “very nearly a public health emergency”.

Speaking ahead of a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Mr Harris said that the previous situation on Mount Street had been “utterly unacceptable”, due to the large numbers of people who were living on the street for several weeks.