Irish police have been attacked with missiles and fireworks at a protest outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Dublin.
A police vehicle was also set on fire at the Citywest Hotel, in Saggart, on Tuesday evening. A line of riot police prevented the protesters getting to the hotel.
Broadcaster RTÉ is reporting that several thousand people had gathered.
Ireland’s Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said there was “no excuse” for the violent scenes.
A water cannon was also deployed but has not been used. Police have now begun clearing protesters from the area.
O’Callaghan said: “This is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the gardaí (Irish police).
“Those involved will be brought to justice.
“It is clear to me from talking to colleagues that this violence does not reflect the people of Saggart. They are not the people participating in this criminality, but rather the people sitting at home in fear of it.
“Attacks on gardaí will not be tolerated. Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not.”
Speaking during the final Irish presidential debate on Tuesday, Heather Humphreys described the violence as “absolutely awful”.
“This is not what we are as a country,” she said.
The other presidential candidate, Catherine Connolly, said the scenes in Saggart were “very upsetting”.
She added that “we need to be careful in this country” about the divisions emerging.
