Calls are being made to prioritise the rights of Travellers following a fire at the weekend which killed ten members of an extended family.
The funerals of the five adults and five children are not expected for some time, as formal identification is proving difficult because of the severity of the fire.
The identification process is expected to rely on dental records, but the deceased have been named as Thomas and Sylvia Connors and their children Jim, Christy and six-month old Mary. Sylvia’s brother Willie Lynch his partner Tara Gilbert and their daughters Kelsey and Jodie also died in the fire, as did Jimmy Lynch, a brother of Willie.
Two adults and a child injured in the blaze remain in hospital.
The counselling needs of their extended families and friends are being assessed.
Representatives of the country's Travelling community have this evening laid a wreath at the scene of the Carrickmines fire.
Margaret O’Leary is from the Southside Travellers Action Group. She says the reaction of the public has been humbling:
Dublin’s Lord Mayor wants a review of safety standards at halting sites, following Saturday’s fire in which ten people lost their lives.
The Green Party is calling for the elimination of temporary halting sites, and Traveller representatives have questioned whether the housing shortage in the capital is to blame.
Mary McDonnell, who visited the halting site on the Glenamuck road earlier to pay her respects, says Travellers must be consulted:
Representatives from the Travelling community are meeting with staff from the HSE, the Department of Social Protection and the St Vincent de Paul to discuss the needs of those who survived the fire.
Books of condolence have been opened at a number of places for the victims of the Carrickmines fire.
President Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina were the first to sign a Book of Condolence, which opened today at the Mansion House in Dublin.
He offered his own sympathy – and that of the Irish people – to the families of those who died.
“Sabina and I are here to express sympathy on our own behalf and on behalf of the Irish people to the Gilbert, Lynch and Connors family on their tragic loss.
“I think the whole country was deeply moved by the significance of it in terms of the grief that must fall on these families. I think it’s a very good idea that there’s an opportunity to express their sympathy and solidarity with the families,” President Higgins said.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny says flags will fly at half mast during the funerals, the details of which have yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has opened an appeal for donations to help the families affected by the Carrickmines fire.
They've set up a bank account to accept contributions from the public - details are available on the charity's website SVP.ie.
Newstalk.com reporter Kieran Cuddihy was at the scene of the fire earlier today.
He says there are regulations around how much space there should be between prefabs on sites like this and questions will have to be answered about whether those rules were adhered to:
Investigations are continuing into the cause of the fire.
Meanwhile, counselling is being offered to the survivors of the fire.
Chief fire officer Pat Fleming (left) and assistant chief fire officer Dennis Keeley at the halting site Image: PA Wire/Brian Lawless
Taoiseach Enda Kenny speaks to locals at the halting site in Carrickmines Image: PA Wire/Brian Lawless
Flowers are left at the halting site Image: PA Wire/Brian Lawless
The National Educational Psychological Service is liasing with staff the Kilternan Educate Together School where some of the children who died went to school.
They will be on hand to offer support to their teachers and classmates today.
Elsewhere, Thomas McCann is Director of the Counselling service for travellers. He says the reality of what has happened has yet to sink in:
