Irish anti-immigration protests (2022–present)

2022–2023 Irish anti-immigration protests
2022–2023 Irish anti-immigration protests
Part of the opposition to immigration in the Republic of Ireland
Date	6 November 2022 – present
Location	Clare; Cork; Dublin; Galway; Kerry; Kildare; Leitrim; Waterford; Westmeath; Wexford;
Caused by	Planning and establishment of transitional shelters for refugees across the Republic of Ireland by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; 2022 Ukrainian refugee crisis in Ireland; Dublin homelessness crisis;
Goals	More information about the shelters for local residents; Equality in accommodating refugees; housing refugee women and children; Moving refugees internally to combat local overpopulation or deporting them from the country;
Methods	Traffic obstruction at roads and ports; Motorcade protests; Assaults on police; Arson; Intimidation and threats to immigrants and politicians;
Status	Ongoing
Concessions	Multiple meetings with relevant ministers; Plans for a communications strategy;
Parties
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Minister: Roderic O'Gorman; Minister of State: Joe O'Brien;	Irish Freedom Party; Ireland First; National Party; Local protest groups East Wall Protest Committee; Mullingar says No!; Rosslare Harbour Concerned Residents;
	Garda Síochána Public Order Unit; Special Detective Unit;
	Civilian counter-protesters Le Chéile; Fermoy and Mallow Against Division;
Arrests, injuries and damages
Injuries	At least one (hit by a vehicle during a protest)
Arrested	2023: ≥ 30 (excluding Dublin riot); 2022: ≥ 2;
Damage	Multiple buildings burned down (suspected arson)
Charged	≥ 5 (in Drimnagh, Finglas, inner city Dublin, and Athy)

Protests at several locations in Ireland started in early November 2022 after the development of sites in various parts of the country as temporary refugee shelters by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), as it attempted to accommodate the influx of 65,000 refugees during 2022. Protests have been held in East Wall, Ballymun, Drimnagh, and elsewhere in Dublin; Fermoy and Mallow in County Cork; Kill, County Kildare; Lismore, County Waterford; Mullingar, County Westmeath; Inch, County Clare; and Rosslare Harbour, County Wexford.

The protests, of which the Garda Síochána say were 307 in 2022 and at least a further 169 as of August 2023, raised concerns over the lack of provision of prior information to local residents and concerns around the impact that local population growth has on on facilities and housing. Protesters have questioned the lack of women and children in some accommodation centres where there have been a high proportion of unmarried males. Some protesters have also been influenced by rumours about migrants carrying out violent or threatening acts but many have been shown to be baseless. Additionally, Gardaí stated in March 2023 that there has not been an increase in crime as a result of international protection applicants nor a need for increased presence near the shelters. Garda Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis reported that both attendance and frequency of protests "appeared to reach a peak" in March 2023.

The presence of anti-immigrant protesters, members of far-right groups, and violent criminals at these protests has been highlighted online and in the media, and 17 people have been arrested at the protests in 2023 as of August. Some far-right protesters have been labeled as "hijackers" of the protests' true purpose and some demonstrations have been described as misrepresentative of local sentiment. Politicians have commented on the protests including Leo Varadkar, the Taoiseach as of 17 December 2022, who said locals vetoing immigration would be "not right", and the topic has been raised in Seanad Éireann and in a joint committee with Dáil Éireann. Plans for better consultation with locals have been put in place and government handling has been both defended and criticised within the Oireachtas.

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