Protests at several locations in Ireland started in early November 2022 after the development of sites in various parts of the country as temporary refugee shelters by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), as it attempted to accommodate the influx of 65,000 refugees during 2022. Protests have been held in East Wall, Ballymun, Drimnagh, and elsewhere in Dublin; Fermoy and Mallow in County Cork; Kill, County Kildare; Lismore, County Waterford; Mullingar in County Westmeath; and Inch in County Clare.
The protests, which the Garda Síochána say were 307 in 2022 and at least a further 169 , raised similar concerns over refugee selection discrimination and the lack of provision of prior information to residents. Protesters have questioned the lack of women and children in some accommodation centres. Some protestors also have been influenced by rumours about migrants carrying out violent or disturbing acts but many have been revealed to be baseless. Garda Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis reported that both attendance and frequency of protests "appeared to reach a peak" in March 2023.
The presence of anti-immigrant protesters, members of far-right groups, and violent criminals at these protests has been highlighted online and in the media, and 17 people have been arrested at the protests in 2023 . Politicians have commented on the protests including Leo Varadkar, the Taoiseach , who said vetoing immigration is "not right", and they have been raised in Seanad Éireann and a joint committee with Dáil Éireann. Plans for better consultation with locals have been put in place and government handling has been both defended and criticised within the Oireachtas.
Background
Protests at several locations in the north and west of the Republic of Ireland started in November 2018 against the placement of refugees in Direct Provision Centres in rural locations. Proposed refugee shelters were firebombed in Moville and Roosky, as was politician Martin Kenny's car in Ballinamore after he spoke in defence of refugees, and demonstrations were held in Roosky, Oughterard, Ballinamore, Carrickmacross, and Achill. What was the Minister of Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan and others claimed the 25 November 2018 fire at a hotel-turned–direct provision centre a week before 100 asylum seekers were going to move in was arson.
Anti-immigrant members of far-right groups were involved in some of the protests. Politicians and others took different positions on the protests, with some supporting them and others criticising them. In February 2022, a major international refugee crisis occurred following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, with millions of Ukrainians displaced. Alongside almost all other European countries, Ireland accepted Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war; by mid-November 2022 over 58,000 Ukrainians had come to Ireland. November 2022 was also the beginning of the protests against the development of sites as temporary refugee shelters by the DCEDIY. Since the mid-2010s, Ireland has been experiencing a housing and accommodation crisis; the simultaneous overlap of both crises exacerbated each other; the failure to provide housing meant that refugees could not expect to find much accommodation in Ireland, and the arrival of thousands of refugees in Ireland meant further strains on housing and accommodation demands that were already peaking.
Dublin region
East Wall protests
Protests started in East Wall in November 2022 over refugees arriving at an office block at the Two Gateway Building which was formerly used by the ESB Group. It was converted into an emergency accommodation centre and it is to be managed by Gateway Integration Ltd for at least 12 months starting from December 2022. After locals questioning why there was no local consultation conducted in advance, the DCEDIY cited the urgency of the situation. A leaflet was subsequently sent out to residents providing further information.
Various reasons for the protest have been cited including: the lack of prior consultation with residents about the arrivals, the potential overcrowding of children's facilities, that the building is reportedly not fit for purpose, and the lack of women and children in the initial group, though local residents have described the protests as embarrassing. However, a North African refugee reported to The Irish Mirror that there is respect for the protestors within the refugee group and that they agree with them.