Irish PM pledges clearer information on migration

Leo Varadkar said that migration in Ireland is rule based

There must be clearer communication with the public about immigration into the Republic of Ireland and the asylum system in the country, the taoiseach (prime minister) has said.

Leo Varadkar's comments followed a fire at a hotel in County Galway on Saturday night.

The fire at the Ross Lake House hotel, in Rosscahill, is being investigated as a criminal damage incident by gardaí (Irish police).

No one was in the hotel at the time and the site has not been in use for a number of years.

No-one was in the hotel which has not been in use for a number of years

It had been due to accommodate 70 asylum seekers and protesters were at the site earlier on Saturday.

Mr Varadkar said on Monday he was "deeply concerned" about misinformation in Ireland.

He said there were "absolute myths" being spread in relation to refugees, such as that Ireland had an "open borders" policy or that it "rolled out the red carpet" for refugees.

Mr Varadkar said migration in Ireland was rule-based and that the Irish government needed to inform people about that.

He added that migration had been good for the country and that the "vast, vast majority" of migrants fill "huge skills gaps" in Ireland.

The Ross Lake, which is in private ownership, had been offered a one-year contract to house international protection applicants.

Protesters had gathered to form a blockade at the entrance of the hotel in opposition to government plans to house the asylum seekers on the premises from Thursday.

Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Micheál Martin, posted on X, formely Twitter, that there was no excuse for the incident.