Posted by UP DATED BY WATCHERS OCTOBER 2025
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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he was “very surprised” by the discovery that Gardaí had been conducting recruitment drives in accommodation centres for asylum seekers, stating that “this is not government policy.”
Speaking in the Dáil today, the Fianna Fáil leader was responding to a question from Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn, who challenged the decision to deploy Gardaí to such centres.
“WHO SIGNED OFF ON THIS?”
O’Flynn had asked the Taoiseach to explain how Gardaí came to be recruiting in centres that house individuals “many of [whom] have entered the state without passports or documentation.”
“Can you explain to the members of this House how members of the Garda Síochána were deployed to recruit at IPAS centres, centres housing individuals, many of those cases who have entered the state without passports or documentation, or without verification or background checks,” the Cork North-Central TD said.
“Some of these individuals may not be the vulnerable cases as often your government portrays. And yet, Gardaí were sent in and invited them to consider a career in Irish policing.
“Tánaiste Harris himself has said this practice was not appropriate. Taoiseach, can you tell us who signed off on this? Whose government or whose idea was this to draw Gardaí into a cohort that cannot fully be identified into the Irish policing force? And will you now give commitment to this House that this policy is reverted and stopped?”
“I MUST SAY, I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THIS”
Martin replied that he was “surprised” by the revelation. He said it was “not Government policy,” and said he would be chasing the matter up with Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.
“I don’t deal with the operational practices of An Garda Síochána, I don’t intervene in those,” Martin replied.
“But I must say I was very surprised to see this. This is not government policy. But I will revert back to the deputy and ask for the communication to be sent to you. I’ll talk to the Minister of Justice in respect of this.”
The controversy follows the revelation that there were a series of Garda recruitment events held in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres since 2022. Locations included Rathmines in Dublin, Castlebar in Mayo, Mosney Village in Meath, and the Grand Hotel in Wicklow, as revealed through documents obtained by Gript under Freedom of Information.
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DREW HARRIS QUESTIONED ABOUT IPAS RECRUITMENT AT AN OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE MEETING
At a Justice Committee meeting last night, Sinn Féin TD Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin described public confusion over the issue and asked for clarification on eligibility rules.
CONFUSION EARLIER THIS WEEK
Earlier confusion stemmed from a press briefing last week, when Commissioner Harris said he was “quite confused” by claims that recruitment events had taken place in IPAS centres. He asserted at the time that asylum seekers “have no route” into An Garda Síochána.
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However, a Garda press officer later clarified that individuals with refugee or subsidiary protection status who meet all other criteria are eligible to apply.
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