Claims that the Government gave in to pressure after choosing to put women and children at a hotel in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, that was originally intended for male asylum seekers have been denied by the Tánaiste, reports RTE.
Although the Department of Integration stated that a decision was made over the weekend to open the building to families in desperate need of shelter, the site was originally intended to house fifty males.
Following news of the plans, a protest outside the hotel at the former JJ Gannon’s in Ballinrobe’s main street started on Friday and ended early today.
Speaking during a visit to Mexico, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said: “I think it makes sense as we listen, as we engage in my view to refine how we locate and settle people in particular centres, but it will still be used to facilitate asylum seekers,” reports RTE.
He said: “And that means protecting life and people and property across the board, and people cannot take the law into their own hands, and I’m saying this more generally in respect of any centres that become available or that the Government identifies,” reports RTE.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.