Taoiseach says we 'cannot turn a blind eye' to migrant encampments

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that Ireland must reconsider what it can offer migrants in the future and that an 'honest and truthful discussion' needs to be had about it. 

The number of tents has grown once again in Dublin, just days after encampments were removed along the Grand Canal. It has been reported that tents along the Grand Canal, where more have popped back up, were attacked and damaged over the weekend.

"We need to move from the emergency response, in terms of migration, to a much more sustainable model," the Taoiseach said in his latest interview on national airwaves this Monday morning.

"Irish people want us [the government] to be honest with people coming into this country about what we can and can't do," he said.

Figures also show the number of asylum seekers increased by 95% in the first four months of this year compared to last. 200 tents were removed from Mount Street outside the international protection office at the start of the month.

The Taoiseach said it is "different when tents arrive for a relatively short period of time versus what was allowed to happen in relation to Mount Street".

"What we're going to do is make sure that never again is there a situation where official Ireland can almost turn a blind eye to the development over many, many, many months of an encampment," he said.

"We can absolutely use State land and provide people with access to sanitation, and help people who are fleeing persecution, but we also have to be truthful in what we can do.

"It's about having an honest, it's about trying to have an honest and truthful discussion in relation to migration".