Gardaí are investigating a suspected case of people smuggling following the discovery of nine men in a container at Rosslare Europort.
It is believed the men and teenagers were in the container at the port for four days, having arrived on a ship from Dunkirk in France last Thursday.
Eight of the men have been deemed to be in good health while one man is receiving a further medical assessment at hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Emergency services responded to the scene at the Wexford port this morning at around 10.30am.
Gardaí are investigating the incident which came to light when one of the men made a phone call and the authorities were alerted.
It is believed the nine people were aged between 16 and 23 and are all originally from east Africa.
It is understood they may have thought they were waiting to be transported onwards while in Rosslare before raising the alarm.
It is understood the container was unaccompanied and was not brought to Rosslare by truck.
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Gardaí and ambulance staff are currently at the scene.
Gardaí have launched an investigation and have called on anyone with information in relation to the discovery of the nine men to contact Wexford Garda Station at 0539165200 or the Garda Confidential Line at 18006611.
It is not known yet what will happen to the men once their medical assessments are complete.
The discovery of people who have hidden in containers coming by ship from Europe to Ireland is becoming a relatively regular occurrence.
Some are sent back to the last country from which they travelled while others are processed by IPAS.
Local independent councillor and ambulance officer with the National Ambulance Service, Ger Carthy, who was called to the scene in his capacity as an advanced paramedic, said the services quickly swung into action when the alarm was raised.
"There was an emergency plan stood up at that stage and a number of emergency vehicles were deployed to Rosslare Europort, including the National Ambulance Service and indeed An Garda Síochána."
He said that the issue of people arriving in such circumstances in places like Rosslare has become "quite concerning" in recent years, particularly in light of potential people-trafficking from continental Europe.
"We've had it over the years, it's a while since we've had one, we've a quite robust immigration service here, but from time to time these things do happen and will probably become more apparent with the wars across the world that we're currently experiencing."
Tiffy Allen of Places of Sanctuary Ireland, who support and advocate for refugees, said that "desperation" is usually behind such incidents.
"It's really sad news and it's a pity that there is this level of desperation, if you can imagine how desperate you would have to be to put your life at risk like that, never mind leaving your home and everything you're comfortable with.
"There are many global issues going on, the number of refugees worldwide has, I believe, exceeded 120 million. That's a vast number of people that's been displaced."
