Evicting migrants sleeping in tents; The Irish government says no time to wait

An operation is underway to remove the camp around the International Protection Office in Mount Street, Dublin.

Roads between Merrion Square, Grafton Street and Mount Street are blocked. There is a Garda presence in the area. The operation started before 7 am today.

The government has not yet specified where they will move those who are sleeping in tents because they are unable to provide accommodation in Ireland. The men are expected to be accommodated in tents. There are up to 200 refugees living in tents.

A Garda spokesman said the operation was being run by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).

Traffic was diverted off Mount Street. Several buses are parked on Mount Street this morning. There are more tents set up on Mount Street this morning than yesterday.

In a statement, the government said: "The purpose of the operation is to ensure the safe movement of people seeking international protection from the tents on Mount Street to IPAS-designated accommodation."

The new measures come just days after T Shakesimon Harris told the Dáil that Mount Street refugee temporary tents would be phased out.

The Irish government was reeling from criticism that the "grossly unsanitary conditions in Mount Street" were "inhumane and unsustainable" and a sign of a failure of government policy.

It said the relocation site would have toilets and showers, health services, indoor areas for feeding, phone charging facilities, transport to and from Dublin city center and 24-hour security.

Several media outlets reported that the lack of toilet facilities was becoming a serious problem, human excreta was being left on the streets, and there were large amounts of garbage piled up near the tents.