The Tánaiste has said that gardaí will be fully resourced to crack down on what he called "an organised campaign of arson and criminality" against properties that may be used to house refugees and asylum seekers.
Micheál Martin was speaking in Washington following an arson attack on a building in Leixlip, Co Kildare in the early hours of yesterday morning after rumours linking the property to accommodation for asylum seekers.
Honeywood, a seven-bed dormer bungalow, was badly damaged after it was set on fire at around 1.30am.
Mr Martin said: "This is a criminal matter, and it seems to me that a campaign is developing of arson and criminality.
"Government will review the situation to see if tougher measures are required, if greater deterrence is required to stop this activity."
Gardaí were called to the property in Leixlip along with the fire service who brought the blaze under control.
No one was in the building at the time and no one was injured. The scene has been preserved for a forensic examination.
It is the second such attack this week after a vacant nursing home was burned out in Crooksling, Co Dublin last Sunday.
An incident room has been set up at Leixlip Garda Station and a senior officer appointed to investigate the fire.
Gardaí are appealing to people who were in the Forest Park and Celbridge Road areas between 12.30am and 2am and those with dashcam or mobile footage to contact them.
"Gardaí - it's my understanding - have made progress in respect to some arson attacks and the gardaí will painstakingly investigate these situations," Mr Martin said.
"What is important is that people are brought to account because lives can be lost through this criminal and reckless behaviour.
"It's unacceptable. We haven't had this before in Ireland and clearly an organised campaign seems to be afoot to burn buildings, destroy property, with potential impact on human life.
"We will not tolerate it. And we will put full resources behind An Garda Síochána to crack down on this".
Asked if the Government might change the law in response to the incidents, Mr Martin said: "We will review it and see what potentially can be done. But we will crack down on this".
Gardaí said they have no information that the building in Leixlip was going to be used to house asylum seekers, but protests were held outside the property and an attempt was made last week to burn it out.
Building 'not under consideration' for use - dept
The Department of Integration has confirmed that the property was not under consideration for use.
It said "it condemns all acts of intimidation and criminality committed by the small minority who want to sow division in our society".
"Arson is a very serious crime which carries heavy prison sentences. No one has the right to cause damage to property, to cause fear, or to threaten public order. There can never be justification for such acts, regardless of circumstances or alleged motivation."
The department urged anyone with any information in relation to these incidents to contact An Garda Síochána.
Social Democrats TD for North Kildare Catherine Murphy said the house that was burned out last night could not have been used to accommodate people seeking international protection because it had been a family home.
She also said that a leaflet claiming this had been circulated in the area last week and it was wrong. She said she had this fact confirmed to her in a parliamentary question.
She also said that another leaflet had also been circulated identifying a second house and claiming it was to be used to house asylum seekers and this too was completely wrong.
The TD said that people in the area had been appalled by the arson attack and were now worried and frightened.
She also said that protests had been held outside the house over the last ten days and these had been attended by named far right and anti immigrant activists.
Mapped: The fires linked to accommodation for migrants
This is the 18th such fire on a premises that was either rumoured, or being considered, to house international protection applicants since January 2023.
Last Sunday a former nursing home Crooksling Co Dublin went on fire.
It is understood gardaí are concerned at the increase in these attacks, and all those being investigated have senior officers appointed to them.
Seven people have been arrested in relation to two of these attacks, and files have been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Over 50 people were arrested last year in relation to suspected illegal activity at anti-migrant protests in Dublin alone.
Additional reporting Paul Reynolds
