House all asylum seekers now.

Last week, the Irish government left 89 asylum seekers without accommodation, to sleep rough on the streets, with nowhere to stay. This is illegal, a crime, a breach of our international commitments, a travesty of human rights, and most of all, it is a betrayal of desperate, vulnerable and traumatised people who have made difficult journeys to our country seeking protection. A fundamental element of that protection to which they are all entitled is shelter. Instead, they have been left without a roof over their heads, placed in further danger from every physical and social risk on the streets. As a wealthy country we can afford to provide somewhere for all asylum seekers and refugees to sleep safely, and we have accommodation options available. This is despite the impression being given that somehow Ireland isn’t wealthy, that we have insurmountable accommodation problems, that there is just ‘nowhere’ to put these people in dire need. These impressions are not reality. We have the money, we have the space, we can – and we are legally, and morally, obliged to – provide accommodation for every asylum seeker and refugee that needs it.

Demonstration welcoming asylum seekers and refugees to Ireland, outside the Shelbourne Hotel, Stephen's Green, Dublin. 21st January 2023.

Some suggested solutions, from an extremely brief search:

Booking.com lists 94 hotels and apartments available to book tonight, 31st January, in Dublin. That’s just in Dublin, accommodation could be provided further afield. And each of these hotel rooms is meant to accommodate two people, when probably more could fit in a room if needed. Obviously the large majority of those hotels would have more than one room available. And those are just the hotels rated as ‘very good’ by Booking.com. Quite a comparison to the emergency and long-term accommodation previously provided to some asylum seekers in bunk beds in large dormitories, in tents, in beds hurriedly constructed in the ballrooms of hotels, or on the floor of ‘a room’ with 40 other people. An even greater comparison to the nothing currently on offer. Would it be quite expensive for the government to book these hotel rooms for asylum seekers? Probably. Is it the state’s legal and moral obligation to provide asylum seekers with somewhere to stay? Yes.

Airbnb, that scourge and occasional scapegoat of the ‘housing crisis,’ lists 809 homes in Dublin available this week. Enough said.

A motorhome comparison site lists dozens of motorhomes/campervans/mobile homes available for hire this week around Ireland. Most can comfortably accommodate 4 or 6 people. And they work out cheaper than individual rooms, provide more facilities, and are, obviously, mobile so can be moved to where they are needed. It would be very doable to rent a couple of dozen of these, park them in the carpark of Citywest or wherever else is meant to be assisting asylum seekers but deliberately failing to do so, and house people in them until somewhere better can be found. Actually, park them in the Dáil carpark.

Ireland’s offiicial tourist website, Ireland.com, lists 100s (1000s?) of places to stay around the country. Its lavish adverts trumpet: Stay somewhere luxurious! Stay somewhere cosy! Stay somewhere extraordinary! Those 89 asylum seekers would be happy with anywhere to stay at all. They don't all have to go to the Shelbourne Hotel. Ireland of the welcomes? That’s meant to be a true story, not the fiction our country is also known for.

House all asylum seekers now.