Taoiseach Micheál Martin has accepted that far right or other groups could “exploit” the lack of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees to get their message across.
However, he insisted that Ireland will not turn people seeking refugee from the war in Ukraine away.
The Cabinet sub-committee on Ukraine will meet this Monday afternoon to discuss the acute shortage of accommodation for refugees.
Read More: Ukrainian ambassador blasts lack of accommodation for refugees in Ireland as 'unacceptable'
This weekend, some 43 people did not have a place to sleep after arriving in Ireland.
Speaking in Cavan on Monday at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, the Taoiseach said that there is a risk that far-right groups who are saying “Ireland is full” could use the current situation to legitimise their commentary
“That would be a concern that certain groups will exploit this to boost their political agenda around migration,” he said.
“That would be very, very regrettable. I think we have to draw heart from the fact that so many communities out there from the very beginning have responded very warmly.
“They won't be on online platforms talking about their generosity and that sometimes gets missed in the narrative.”
Mr Martin said that he accepts that “we can do things better in terms of some of our systems”.
He also mentioned that the €400 payment for those taking in Ukrainian refugees into their homes “could be better”.
It is understood that the Cabinet sub-committee will examine whether these payments can be increased.
While Mr Martin would not be drawn on how many extra places of accommodation could be sourced, he noted that if the properties that have already been identified for reconfiguration can be “brought to realisation quickly”, it could provide a “significant” number of beds.
He insisted that Ireland had a “legal and moral obligation” to provide refuge for Ukrainian people fleeing the war.
When asked if he was “embarrassed” that Ireland cannot provide accommodation for refugees, Mr Martin said that he “doesn’t look at it through that prism” and praised the Irish response to date.
Some 58,000 Ukrainian people have arrived in Ireland since the start of the war in February. Over 45,000 of these people are in State-provided accommodation. Another 15,000 people are living in direct provision.
Additional temporary accommodation is expected to open in Dublin Airport this evening to provide people with a place to sleep. Up to 200 can be accommodated here.
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