Irish Examiner View: Removing refugee tents moves the problem out of sight

The Government's relocation of asylum seekers sleeping in tents on Mount St can be seen as a failing to acknowledge a problem that is slipping away and on course to become worse

Tents back on Mount St, Dublin after the area was cleared on Saturday of refugee and asylum seekers tents from outside the International Protect offices. Picture: Leon Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

There’s a reason that the abiding phrase “out of sight, out of mind” has been part of our lexicon for many centuries. It’s because we all recognise it contains an inherent truth.

On one hand, removing a problem from the public gaze means citizens can go about their lives — in this case a joyous celebration of St Patrick’s Day — without confronting disquieting, disturbing consequences of short-term public policy. Alternatively, it can be seen as failing to acknowledge a problem that is slipping away from Government and is on course to become worse — which makes hypocrites of us all in the land that likes to boast of its thousand welcomes.