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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavic. Diarmuid Pepper/The Journal

Varadkar says Clare blockade is ‘wrong’ but that community concerns should not be dismissed

Varadkar also noted that there is a need to ‘acknowledge’ that some of those attending recent protests ‘hold racist views and we have to stand up to that’.

Diarmuid Pepper reporting in Reykjavik

TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said the blockade outside asylum seeker accommodation in Co Clare is “wrong” but cautioned that the “genuine concerns” of local communities should not be dismissed.

However, Varadkar added that there is a need to “acknowledge” that some of those attending recent protests “hold racist views and we have to stand up to that”.

On Monday evening, a bus carrying over 30 asylum seekers arrived by bus at Magowna House hotel in Inch, Co Clare.

Some local people then blocked both ends of the hotel road with tractors.

Political representatives from Clare will have a video call with Minister for Equality and Integration Roderic O’Gorman later to discuss the protest.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns blamed the government for an “increasingly chaotic response” to the migrant crisis and “an abject failure to provide emergency accommodation” during Leaders Questions today.

“The manager of Magowna House knew for three months that asylum seekers would be housed there. But nobody else was told,” she said.

“The local community was not told. Local politicians were not told. Even Clare Immigrant Support Center was not told.”

Minister for Justice Simon Harris responded, thanking Cairns for raising the issue.

“Minster O’Gorman is leading an incredible effort to respond to the largest humanitarian crisis any of us have lived through,” he said.

“I just want to assure Deputy Cairns that the entire government and the cabinet committee chaired by the Taoiseach is coordinating the effort in relation to this.”

“I also, for the information of the House, want to confirm that Minister O’Gorman now intends to open 350 additional beds this week.”

“Ireland’s response to this has not been perfect. I’m not sure any country’s has. But we have achieved an awful lot together as a country and the government has done an awful lot in a short period of time.”

Leo Varadkar told reporters today at the Council of Europe Summit in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik that the blockade was wrong.

“Nobody should have their free access over public roads stopped in that way.”

However, Varadkar added that “sometimes people in local communities have genuine concerns”.

“But I also don’t want to dismiss the fact that sometimes people in local communities do have genuine concerns that need to be listened to,” said Varadkar.

“That’s why there is going to be an engagement today involving the Minister and also local reps to give communities the information, the reassurance, that they need.”

Varadkar noted that communities don’t have a “veto” over who can live in their area.

“Information and consultation, as I’ve always said, is exactly that; it’s not a veto.

“Nobody gets to say who can and cannot live in their area and we can’t have that kind of situation. But I think we shouldn’t dismiss concerns that people have about their locality.

“People do want to know what’s happening and they want certain assurances, and we’ve a responsibility to do that.

“But that doesn’t mean that anyone can say that certain types of people can’t live in their area, we can’t tolerate that.”

When asked if he would call on the protesters to leave Magowna House Hotel, Varadkar said he would “see how the talks go today”.

He added: “We’ll be speaking to Minister Gorman later on and I’m confident that we’ll be able to get to a situation whereby we’ll be able to bring some of the buildings as part of that complex into use for people who need accommodation.”

Varadkar also noted that there’s been over 100 protests over asylum seeker accommodation “in the last couple of weeks”.

“Most of them are very small,” said Varadkar, “but some are larger and a small number have become violent.”

He said that the government has a “responsibility to provide information and to communicate with local people about what’s happening in their area”.

Varadkar added that the government is “stepping up our efforts to do that all the time”.

He also noted that the government must work to “dispel a lot of the misinformation and false stories that are being put about”.

“We shouldn’t not acknowledge what is happening here,” said Varadkar.

“There are people who hold extreme views, who hold racist views, essentially, and we have to stand up to that.

“When it comes to most people, with information and with communication and with assurance, I think you can get them on board.

“But there always will be a small minority of people who have extreme views or have racist views and they need to be stood up to.”

At a Cabinet meeting last night, Minister O’Gorman was said to have appealed for more assistance in dealing with the asylum seeker crisis.

Varadkar noted that he wasn’t at the Cabinet meeting yesterday as a result of being at the Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavik.

“So I’m not sure exactly what did or did not happen, but what I can say is that this is a whole of government effort when it comes to the issue of Ukraine and migration,” said Varadkar.

“Minister O’ Gorman is the head of the department of integration, but of course, education is involved as well, 14,000 children from Ukraine are being provided with education or schools.

“Tens of thousands of medical cards have been issued by the Department of Health and the Department of Social Protection are very involved in giving people the welfare supports that they need.

“Every government department is involved in their own way but there does have to be a lead department that is naturally the department of integration.”

When asked if Minister O’Gorman is receiving enough support, Varadkar said that “any support that has been asked for, I think at this stage, is available and has been given”.

He added that “a huge amount of money has been set aside for this” and that the “real challenge has been finding accommodation”.

“The difficulty that we have is that nearly 100,000 people have arrived in Ireland seeking protection in the past year, and we’re struggling to find places to shelter them to keep them safe,” said Varadkar.

“Any time Minister O’ Gorman has approached government for help, particularly when it comes to financial help, that’s been made available.

“Where there have been difficulties is getting staff because we have full employment at the moment, and (there is difficulty in) actually finding places to accommodate people because there is a general housing shortage at the moment.”

Varadkar also commended the gardaí for the job they have done in “managing what can be a difficult situation”.

“They have the full support of government and as you know, additional resources are being provided throughout the course of this year.”

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91 Comments
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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Hinge
    Favourite Mary Hinge
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    Apr 28th 2014, 4:35 PM

    Apparently Microsoft have contacted all five users of internet explorer to warn them…

    489
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    Mute Tom Keating
    Favourite Tom Keating
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    Apr 28th 2014, 8:03 PM

    If it was only that simple, 25% of the world browser users use IE versions 6 to 11, so this is a big deal and a big impact.

    37
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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Apr 29th 2014, 6:58 AM

    The usual hype. Its not like ‘all of a sudden’ there is a security flaw in IE version x y or z. There have been countless flaws in every version since for ever. Let there be no panic, no ‘serious problems’.

    4
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    Mute Were Jammin
    Favourite Were Jammin
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    Apr 28th 2014, 4:53 PM

    A quick workaround for XP users still using IE.

    1. Install chrome or firefox

    2. Slap yourself for not ditching IE sooner.

    389
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    Mute Pedro
    Favourite Pedro
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    Apr 28th 2014, 4:44 PM

    Windows 8 fails to hit expected targets.

    Microsoft ends support for XP.

    Shortly after, “massive” security issue found in IE.

    Microsoft state that they will be issuing a patch to fix the security issue however XP users will be left vulnerable.

    All seems a bit too convenient to me..

    243
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    Mute SilentFugitive
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    Apr 28th 2014, 8:18 PM

    You have my vote Pedro.

    36
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    Mute Ali Fortune
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    Apr 28th 2014, 4:33 PM

    People still use IE?

    155
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    Mute Pedro
    Favourite Pedro
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    Apr 28th 2014, 4:45 PM

    Bank of Ireland’s Business Online tool only works with IE.

    115
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    Mute Tony Canning
    Favourite Tony Canning
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    Apr 28th 2014, 4:48 PM

    The most recent IE is actually good.

    52
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    Mute ƒR()§†H@X
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    Apr 28th 2014, 5:34 PM

    Apparently nearly 1 in 10 users still use it
    http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

    20
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    Mute Ian Mac Eochagáin
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    Apr 28th 2014, 5:35 PM

    Our production system at work only works with IE, and version 9 at that.

    29
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    Mute Joe Brennan
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    Apr 28th 2014, 8:00 PM

    It’s closer to 1 in 5 that still use IE. The stats you posted are only for users of the w3 schools site who would generally be more tech savvy

    10
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    Mute B9xiRspG
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    Apr 28th 2014, 9:38 PM

    If software is written that only works on IE then it’s bad development and laziness on the coder part

    17
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    Mute Virtual Architect
    Favourite Virtual Architect
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    Apr 29th 2014, 12:50 AM

    I stopped using BOIs business internet service because it was so appalling. I have to go to a bank machine or make a phone call to find out my bank balance. As for internet explorer- it is only used by people who don’t know much about security.

    4
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    Mute Dave Davis
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    Apr 29th 2014, 3:55 AM

    Agreed. Bank of Ireland Business On Line is the most atrocious app online. It’s an absolute embarrassment and breaks every usability standard in existence. It looks and acts like it was whipped up in a 4th class Web design class. They charge a hefty fee for the privilege too. The only reason I still use it is because it’s the only bank that let’s you wire money to Serbia believe it or not. I hate not having a choice.

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    Mute Frank Carty
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    Apr 29th 2014, 8:39 AM

    On the contrary Jim, the opposite is true. Its very easy to develop site for FF and Chrome, compared to earlier versions of IE

    2
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    Mute Marc Keegan
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    Apr 29th 2014, 5:03 PM

    I agree with Frank – It’s difficult to get a site to display correctly on IE and requires a lot more effort than FF or Chrome – It takes time, patience and a lot of experience to get a modern design to perform as intended on IE. (Also requires tears and a jade monkey paw).

    1
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    Mute Leopold Dedalus
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    Apr 28th 2014, 4:35 PM

    “The security flaw puts almost all Internet Explorer users at risk”

    Those 30 people must be very worried

    131
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    Mute Frank
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    Apr 28th 2014, 4:37 PM

    A deliberate move by Microsoft to scaremongering operators of XP to upgrade to more NSA hackable and imposing systems with built in cameras and back door snooping technology. It will be a long time before I leave from XP.

    58
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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Apr 28th 2014, 4:48 PM

    Or just move to linux.

    57
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    Mute Glen
    Favourite Glen
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    Apr 28th 2014, 5:21 PM

    Frank
    Out of curiosity, and I’m not being a smartass but do you cover your webcam with tape.

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    Mute Jarlath Murphy
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    Apr 28th 2014, 5:25 PM

    Doesn’t everyone?

    53
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    Mute ged_star
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    Apr 28th 2014, 5:34 PM

    Frank where exactly did you get this info

    “NSA hackable and imposing systems with built in cameras and back door snooping technology”

    Never heard such rubbish in the last 15 years that I’ve been working in IT

    23
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    Mute Glen
    Favourite Glen
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    Apr 28th 2014, 5:50 PM

    ged
    I have been in IT less time than you and I can say without reservation that Franks comment has merit.

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    Mute Vocal Outrage
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    Apr 28th 2014, 6:08 PM

    Are you guys off your rockers? XP has probably been compromised in terms of privacy just as much as every other OS

    13
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    Mute ged_star
    Favourite ged_star
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    Apr 28th 2014, 6:35 PM

    Glen and Frank

    Where is your proof???

    I would be really interested in reading more info about “NSA hackable and imposing systems with built in cameras and back door snooping technology”

    So please post any proof that you both have and I will gladly read

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    Mute Frank
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    Apr 28th 2014, 7:26 PM

    Glen … I don’t need to … Dell 6400 was made long before build in web cams.

    13
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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Apr 28th 2014, 7:33 PM

    ged_star – what isolated corner of the web have you been living in? Habbo Hotel??

    https://www.eff.org/nsa-spying/timeline

    9
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    Mute Frank
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    Apr 28th 2014, 7:33 PM

    ged_star … I guess you must be still working on Windows 98 with MMX technology hardware.

    Dell have been operating outsourced (India) customer service using remote access to PC Systems for the last 15 years.

    This is quite old news….

    Broadcom has just rolled out a chip for smart phones that promises to indicate location ultra-precisely, possibly within a few centimeters, vertically and horizontally, indoors and out.

    The unprecedented accuracy of the Broadcom 4752 chip results from the sheer breadth of sensors from which it can process information. It can receive signals from global navigation satellites, cell-phone towers, and Wi-Fi hot spots, and also input from gyroscopes, accelerometers, step counters

    http://www.broadcom.com/products/GPS/GPS-Silicon-Solutions/BCM4752

    http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/broadcom-4752-rfid-microchip.jpg

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    Mute Glen
    Favourite Glen
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    Apr 28th 2014, 5:16 PM

    The cost of upgrading to a different OS for businesses alone would be astronomical on the wide scale. People like XP their comfortable with it I can’t see that changing anytime soon.

    28
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    Mute Graeme O'Connor
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    Apr 28th 2014, 6:33 PM

    They did on a mass scale when moving from Windows 95 to XP and there was no complaints about the cost then. If they’re that worried about the cost then they should move to a Unix based OS which can be used for free.

    13
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    Mute Alan Lawlor
    Favourite Alan Lawlor
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    Apr 28th 2014, 9:25 PM

    Win95 to XP was an improvement.
    Vista and Win8 are arguably not (Win 7 was/is good imho)
    Not everybody is tech-savvy enough to replace Windows with Linux, but that is not necessary.
    For some years, many people on XP have been switching for IE browser to Chrome or Firefox, hence IEs dwindling market share, even amongst non-mobile and non-tablet platforms. This is because there were no longer IE upgrades for xp users, therefore no support for HTML5 and CSS3 increasingly used on many websites.
    So, quick fix is to change broswer not whole OS. You also have less vulnerabilities and quicker patches when they do arise.

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    Mute Glen
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    Apr 28th 2014, 11:40 PM

    Alan
    Vista is a hybrid of XP & 7
    7 is a great OS as is XP but 8 is more touchscreen based. Linux has merit. Their disc defrag is the biggest difference as far as I can see. Personally I use Mozilla for browsing I just can’t see eye to eye with Chrome.

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Apr 28th 2014, 5:46 PM

    Use Mozilla – unless you bank with BOI.

    13
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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Apr 28th 2014, 9:17 PM

    internet explorer IS mozilla

    1
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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Apr 28th 2014, 9:20 PM

    Firefox then!

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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Apr 28th 2014, 9:47 PM

    No it’s not, Alan. Firefox is part of the Mozilla Foundation. IE is Microsoft. You may think this because it has the word Mozilla in its User Agent string, but nearly all browsers have that for legacy compatibility reasons.

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    Mute Clau Mc C
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    Apr 28th 2014, 6:11 PM

    IE is widely used in enterprise, chrome and Firefox are more for the end/home user

    11
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    Mute David Jordan
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    Apr 28th 2014, 8:36 PM

    The only country that has to use IE is South Korea, the government there made it a legal requirement to encrypt shopping and banking websites. However, the security software legally required uses Microsoft’s ActiveX scripting language, which is only available in Internet Explorer. Ironically, ActiveX is horribly insecure.

    “South Koreans use Internet Explorer: It’s the law”

    http://www.zdnet.com/south-koreans-use-internet-explorer-its-the-law-7000022827/

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    Mute Thors Big Hammer
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    Apr 28th 2014, 4:47 PM

    Just visit trust worthy sites and you will be fine.

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    Mute Neal Ireland
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    Apr 28th 2014, 5:44 PM

    Which ones are those?

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    Mute Onlyblowingsmoke
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    Apr 28th 2014, 5:40 PM

    What few of you seem to realise or know is that nearly all atm machines in Ireland still use this now security flaud software. Can any one provide information on this, are the banks likely to upgrade, at what cost to the already overcharged customers

    5
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    Mute John McDonnell
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    Apr 28th 2014, 6:27 PM

    Most ATM’s don’t use Internet Explorer.

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    Mute Crocodylus Pontifex
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    Apr 28th 2014, 7:17 PM

    The ‘m’ stands for machine so it’s either AT machine or just ATM but never ATM machine

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    Mute Shay
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    Apr 28th 2014, 5:38 PM

    People still use laptops?

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