Protesters and Gardaí have clashed in Roscrea, Co Tipperary as asylum seekers were brought to the town.
An Garda Síochána put an operation in place at the Racket Hall Hotel shortly before noon involving officers and ‘soft cap’ public order personnel.
During the course of the operation one man was arrested under the Public Order Act and released without charge.
A file is to be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
A Garda presence remains at the hotel.
Three families, including young children, are staying at the premises.
Newstalk's Henry McKean is there and told The Hard Shoulder what the scene is like.
"There's about 50 protestors still here - at one point there was 200," he said.
"They've set up these firepits at the side of the road.
"There is a rush hour even though it's quite a small population in Roscrea, you could say a town that's had a difficult few years when it comes to the economy.
"The Garda Public Order Unit were present here and this afternoon there were skirmishes.
"Things are much calmer now I must say.
"The Guards have moved back a bit now, they're on the actual hotel grounds.
"Things are clam, people are bedding in for the night," he added.
Gardaí say they are "acutely aware of the significant volume of misinformation, disinformation and fake news" in relation to International Protection Applicants.
‘Soft cap’ public order personnel meant they were not wearing helmets or body armour.
'Where we can find it'
Speaking on Newstalk yesterday, Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman said an increase in asylum seekers meant the Government must "take accommodation where we can find it".
"We have seen an increase in the number of female and family applicants over the last number of weeks - we’re under real pressure here," he said.
"That’s why accommodation in Roscrea will be used for families.
"We've had to take accommodation where we can find it because of the significant need and increase in demand both in terms of Ukrainians and international protection applicants".
Mr O'Gorman said he sympathises with concerns that the only hotel in Roscrea will now solely be used as accommodation for asylum seekers.
"I completely understand [when] a hotel in a town has its use changed, it as an impact,” he said.
"That’s why it’s important we are able to better plan where we locate accommodation.
"The approach we have taken is a reactive approach," he added.
