Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, it is not acceptable. There are serious questions to answer as to how this was allowed to happen. I do not say that to be overly critical but the fact is it is not acceptable. There are rules that need to be followed in every circumstance, even in an emergency. We must have a rules-based migration system. We have to be able to do better than allowing the situation that has happened on Mount Street. There is very specific action being taken, almost as we speak, to try to find alternative accommodation for the people there. However, there is a broader issue in terms of safety, including public safety, that seriously needs to be addressed. There is a role in this for the Garda, Dublin City Council and, of course, for the Government as well.

I do not want to broaden the Deputy's question too much but we need a debate in Ireland around migration policy that is broader than just a conversation about accommodation capacity. There are very serious issues we need to look to address. The job of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is just - I do not use "just" in a flippant way - to provide accommodation for those who come to our country. There is a broader issue around processing times and how we interact with the borders of Europe and the common travel area. The Minister for Justice spoke yesterday about the many people now coming over the porous Border. She spoke about how deportations, returns policies and secondary movements operate. There is a lot of good work going on in this space. We have now reached a point in Ireland where we start the conversation from the accommodation place, whereas we need to start it from the aspect of the enforcement of the rules-based system. I just offer that as a comment.