Minister Roderic O’Gorman has condemned the fire at Ross Lake House in Galway as “deeply disturbing” and called for unified condemnation.
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said that fear mongering was what led to this act.
The hotel was chosen to house 70 asylum seekers from next Thursday, with locals being informed of the news on Friday.
Ross Lake House in Rosscahill was burned in a large fire on Saturday night, shortly before midnight.
The blaze happened at around 11:35pm and afterwards Fire services brought the fire under control.
Gardaí have said that they are investigating the fire as a “criminal damage incident by fire”. Fortunately, no-one was injured.
“Deeply disturbing news from Galway last night,” Minister O’Gorman said in a social media post.
“Politicians across the board should condemn this disgraceful act and the fear mongering that led to it.”
Galway County Cllr for Connemara Alastair McKinstry condemned the arson, and those “stoking fear” with racist claims.
“We must overcome this hatred with humanity,” the Green Party councillor said on X, formerly know as twitter.
Senator Pauline O’Reilly added that she was “disgusted” by the fire and, “the attitude of some local politicians over the past couple of days”.
“I beg of people to show their common humanity,” the Senator said.
