Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The scenes on Mount Street yesterday were nothing short of a farce. They were the epitome and embodiment of the mismanagement and failure of the Irish asylum system. Only hours after the tents were removed from outside the International Protection Office, IPO, up to 50 new arrivals awaiting processing were then turned away. They were told there was no accommodation for the night, the office was closed and they could return the following morning. There were chaotic scenes yesterday at the removal of the tents. Gardaí were required to manage the operation after fighting broke out, as reported on the news this morning. Footage online this morning shows metal railings all around Mount Street, presumably to stop a further encampment from being set up there again. While emergency measures are welcome, they are little more than a Band-Aid on a surgical wound. The Government is planning to convert derelict houses for asylum seekers and international protection applicants.

This is a Government concerned only with its international obligations. I would like to see more conversation about our national obligations, our obligations to the people of Ireland, the people awaiting social housing, who work day after day and can only dream of the opportunity to move out of their home. This Government fails miserably in its national obligations. We face a vote, imminently, on the EU migration pact. Denmark has decided to reject the pact. We are told we will not have access to the system if we do not sign the full pact but there is nothing stopping us signing up for Eurodac while rejecting the pact or part thereof. We have been told that this is an all-or-nothing deal. This pact has come from the EU. Why can we not have an Irish solution to asylum and migration issues that deals with the specific problems we have here at this time? It is time to put our national interests first.