'It's a very serious issue' - more migrant tents are pitched in central Dublin

The Minister for Housing says the pitching of more tents along the Grand Canal in Dublin is a "very serious issue" and something which nobody wants to see.

Darragh O'Brien made his comments this Friday morning after he was asked about reports that a new encampment of around 30 tents was set up overnight.

It comes after more than 100 tents were removed and migrants relocated elsewhere in the capital during a multi-agency operation on Thursday morning.

After the tents were cleared, barriers were erected to prevent tents from being pitched there again. However, dozens of tents were pitched further up the canal, and elsewhere in Dublin, overnight.

"It's a very serious issue - nobody wants to see tents in our capital city or indeed in any of our cities or our towns - absolutely not," Mr O'Brien told Newstalk Breakfast adding that members of the cabinet sub-committee were briefed on Thursday evening.

"To be fair to Minister (Roderic) O'Gorman and to government, we have to prioritise families -  women and children - first with regard to whatever accommodation is available. Now, our task is and the challenge is - and we will get there -  is to provide more additional accommodation," he added.

Minister O'Brien told Newstalk that plans are being progressed to develop 'permanent sites' for accommodating migrants and to speed up the process for those seeking asylum in Ireland. 

"You need a fair asylum system - those who have a claim that's valid should stay, those who don't should go - we need to expedite that process," he commented.