Political extremism growing concern - Irish police

Drew Harris' comments followed a fire which broke out at a hotel County Galway, on Saturday night

There is "growing concern" about political extremism in the Republic of Ireland, the country's top police officer has said.

Drew Harris's comments followed a fire at a hotel in Rosscahill, County Galway, on Saturday night.

The Ross Lake House hotel had been due to accommodate 70 asylum seekers.

Following the fire, Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Micheál Martin said comments made by two Fianna Fáil councillors who criticised the Irish government's policy on migration as "absolutely unacceptable".

Appearing at the Policing Authority on Tuesday, Garda (Irish police) Commissioner Drew Harris described a "gutting" of the premises on Saturday evening, and said a full investigation is under way.

"We've had similar incidences, and we've had individuals charged with criminal damage in respect of such incidents as well," he said.

"There is a perhaps growing concern, and this is a concern seen across Europe, in terms of the rise of political extremism, and protests and violence that follow and obviously, the far right are an element in that."

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

According to the commissioner, there were 585 protests in the Dublin metropolitan area this year so far, 227 of which related to immigration and refugees.

Mr Harris said there was no evidence to suggest attacks such as the one in Galway were a "co-ordinated effort".

"The premises were very remote, very difficult to find and, regrettably, the suspects in respect of that are most probably living quite close in that area," he said.

"We'll pursue the evidence but obviously we want to identify those who carried out such damaging attack, as we've done in other cases."

'Deeply sinister'

Michéal Martin's criticism of two councillors from his political party came after they made comments about immigration policy.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that councillor Seamus Walsh said if the fire was criminal damage then it was prompted by the "senseless policy" of the Irish government on migrants.

Councillor Noel Thomas told RTÉ that the "inn is full" and Ireland should not accept any more refugees.

The comments by the councillors have been referred to rules and procedures committee of Fianna Fáil, one of the three parties in Ireland's coalition government.

Micheál Martin said there was no link between migrants and bad behaviour

Mr Martin said he did not agree with the comments and that there was "room at the inn".

He said the building in County Galway was empty and could be used to house people.

The tánaiste said that accommodating migrants had been the Irish government's policy for a number of decades under European Union rules and the Geneva Convention.

He also said there was no link between migrants and bad behaviour.

When he was asked if the two councillors should be expelled from the party, Mr Martin said he could not pre-empt the process.

Mr Martin also said the building in County Galway was empty and could be used to house people

On Monday, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said there must be clearer communication with the public about immigration into the Republic of Ireland and the asylum system in the country.

It was also announced that that stronger incapacitant spray would be made available to all gardaí next month.

An Garda Síochána said 20,000 units had been initially ordered, and more will be brought in if necessary.

It is one of a number of enhanced personal-protection measures introduced for gardaí following the riots in Dublin last month.

The stronger type of pepper spray had only been previously available to the public order and armed units but is now to be issued to all frontline officers.