The Minister for Justice accepts that the government could be better at communicating with local communities when it comes to housing refugees and asylum seekers.

Simon Harris has called out the behaviour of far-right groups in relation to refugee accommodation.

He is urging people not to "buy in" to "propaganda" amid a series of recent protests held around the country.

The Taoiseach said this week that recent racist protests against asylum seekers are ‘not acceptable and not the Irish way’.

Anti-refugee protests have continued in parts of Dublin with people heard chanting things like ‘burn them out’ and ‘get them out’.

Keeping people informed

"I absolutely accept that we have more to do in relation to communication", Minister Harris said.

"And I accept that in the context of we're operating in a system where every single day we're trying to deal with really challenging scenarios regarding people fleeing persecution, regarding war in Europe."

"But yes, we must and we will do better in terms of keeping people informed, communicating, giving people the information."

"People in their communities have a right, I think, to be kept better informed and provided with more information of what actually is going on."

Opposition parties have called for there to be more joined-up thinking within the government.

Coordination

The Labour Party believes a Special Minister for housing refugees should be appointed.

Minister for Sport Catherine Martin has asked sporting bodies to help accommodate asylum seekers by using their empty buildings, some of which have been used already on a temporary basis.

Labour Senator Mark Wall told Newstalk that this isn't enough to handle the crisis.

"We're only seeing in the last couple of days that the Minister, Roderic O'Gorman, is writing to the various government departments", he said.

"What we are calling for is that that special Minister would actually be put in situ quickly, in order to ensure that sports clubs in other communities that are coming together to offer refuge for refugees are coordinated."

"There needs to be coordination across government departments and we need to see that."

'Around the clock'

However, Minister Harris says the Government is doing all it can to find accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.

"We are working around the clock to look at every possible way of providing shelter and protection for those fleeing war", he said.

"You will see my colleague, Minister O'Gorman, reaching out to government departments, estate agencies, asking all of us to step up with any provision that we can, and that work is ongoing."

Main image shows Minister Harris. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie