Dublin: Deputy Prime Minister and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has indicated that the government may seriously consider a review of Ireland’s immigration and refugee policy, marking a notable shift from the government’s long-standing approach of broad acceptance toward refugee arrivals.
Speaking to reporters outside government buildings ahead of a cabinet meeting, Harris acknowledged growing public concern about Ireland’s current asylum and immigration systems. His remarks come in the wake of recent disturbances at Citywest, which have reignited debate over migration management and accommodation pressures.
Harris: “The System Is Not Working Well”
Harris said that while Ireland has benefited greatly from immigration, the current system requires urgent reassessment.
“The refugee system in Ireland is not working well. The policy needs to be reviewed, and the government must take this very seriously,” he stated.
He added that although Ireland will continue to welcome people who contribute positively to society, the current volume of arrivals is unsustainable.
“Even those who have been proven not to have the right to remain are continuing to live here. This needs to change. The government must also look after its own citizens. Having to accommodate 20,000 people at once places enormous strain on resources,” Harris said.
At the same time, he condemned recent violence, describing it as “unacceptable” and “a form of looting”, while reaffirming that public debate must not descend into hostility or xenophobia.
Mixed Political Reactions
Harris’s remarks drew sharp and divided reactions across the political spectrum.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín criticised the move as a political U-turn, suggesting Harris was responding to public pressure rather than showing leadership.
Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon accused the government of deflecting blame onto asylum seekers, saying the administration’s own failure to provide adequate resources had created the current crisis.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s justice spokesperson, Matt Carthy, said Harris’s comments confirmed what his party had long maintained — that Ireland’s international protection system is ineffective.
“The government has been slow to make decisions and ineffective in implementing deportations. It’s ironic that the same leaders who oversaw this dysfunction are now speaking as critics,” Carthy remarked.
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