Integration Minister Joe O’Brien agreed there was “poor communication” with residents over asylum seekers.  

That’s according to Clare TD Cathal Crowe, who said Junior Integration Minister Joe O'Brien has agreed no additional asylum seekers will arrive in Clare for the next four weeks.  

The Minister and protestors agreed to meet again in a month’s time over a blockade in protest of asylum seekers’ arrival in Clare.  

They met on Thursday over protests for plans to house 34 asylum seekers in houses on the site of Magowna House, which closed in 2019.

"Legitimate concerns"

Deputy Crowe said it was a “frank” meeting between the Minister and protestors.  

“It was a good meeting, it’s important to say none of the local politicians were at it,” he said.  

“I think that’s probably a good thing – this needed to be a direct, frank discussion without too many voices in the room.” 

18/05/2023 Clare, Ireland. Pictured is a Garda escort for a bus carrying asylum seekers to the Magowna Hotel in Clare today. Refugees have faced protests from local residents, who have expressed anger that they were not consulted before the asylum seekers were housed in the hotel. Locals also claim that the lack of footpath on the roads present a danger to persons in need of International Protection who are housed here. Photograph: Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

The Fianna Fáil TD said Mr O’Brien accepted the concerns of local residents.  

“The Minister left Inch understanding that pretty much everything these residents have been on about are grounded on legitimate concerns,” he said.  

“He accepts the legitimacy of that - he accepts there has been poor communication and he has undertaken to try to address a lot of it.” 

Some 50 protestors blocked the road to the site of the closed hotel, where 34 asylum seekers would be staying in three holiday homes.  

18/05/2023 Clare, Ireland. One of the separate houses which form part of The Magowna Hotel complex in Clare today, where locals have set up a blockade. Refugees have faced protests from local residents, who have expressed anger that they were not consulted before the asylum seekers were housed in the hotel. Locals also claim that the lack of footpath on the roads present a danger to persons in need of International Protection who are housed here. Photo shows RTE journalist John Cooke on his mobile phone. Photograph: Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

It was planned to house several people in each of the three homes, with Ennis being the closest town eight kilometres away. 

Several asylum seekers returned to Dublin amid the protests, saying they would stay “where [they] are not welcome”.