Congress strongly condemns the attacks and threats on asylum seekers in Dublin over the past weekend. The deeply distressing scenes of an encampment of those left to sleep rough by the state being burnt out last Friday evening is a worrying development.
The further blatant targeting and abuse of those outside the International Protection office on Mount Street on Saturday reflect the increasing targeting by the far right and their supporters of vulnerable people simply seeking a safe haven and shelter.
Congress supports calls by the Irish Refugee Council for asylum seekers without accommodation to be brought off the streets immediately and placed in temporary accommodation to ensure their safety. The state's failings in its legal and moral obligations in providing protection for those seeking asylum cannot continue. Government must urgently address the failures in our international protection system and work with communities in providing a supportive environment for those seeking protection.
