Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said the Government's approach to immigration has been ad hoc, arbitrary and driven by private provision.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Philip Boucher-Hayes, she said that often means that vulnerable cohorts of people have been placed in communities where resources have already been cut to the bone.
Ms McDonald said centres for vulnerable people should not be placed in deprived, struggling areas that have been neglected by successive governments.
"Because a person fleeing conflict and trauma needs support ... if you have any basic common sense, you do not place that person in a community and in a setting that is stretched to the bone, where the food banks struggle.
"That is not a good idea. It's not a good idea for the applicants, and it is not a good idea for the community."
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Ms McDonald said there must also be dialogue and consultation with communities where centres are to be opened.
"At the heart of our approach, therefore, is community. It's about living in the real world and recognising people's lived realities. It's about getting the system right, in a way to protect our social cohesion."
Communities are not looking for a veto, she said, but for fairness, common sense and their voices to be heard.
She said her party wants to increase staffing at the international protection office and increase IPAS resources in order to allow for a faster processing of applicants, as the current system is too slow.
While there is a costing for this "it is not enormous" and "whatever it costs, it needs to be done," she said.
Ms McDonald pointed out that two thirds of applicants are unsuccessful.
It is imperative that these people are safely and respectfully returned, she said, in order to keep capacity in the system.
She said her party's policy document sets out the policy apparatus, framework and approach.
"I lead the opposition, I'm not the responsible party in Government at this point. We have set out I think, very clearly, a very balanced, a very clear methodology and approach and value system for dealing with this issue year on year."
She accused presenter Philip Boucher Hayes of being rude and argumentative during the interview.
I look forward to @rtenews 'robust' interviewing of government ministers and representatives.
— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) July 24, 2024
Her Sinn Féin colleague Pearse Doherty said the interview was "in stark contrast" to the "softly softly approach" taken "to the Taoiseach and other ministers".
It is "time for equal treatment," he added on social media.
RTÉ's interview with Mary Lou MacDonald this morning in stark contrast to softly softly approach to the Taoiseach and other ministers. Time for equal treatment.
— Pearse Doherty (@PearseDoherty) July 24, 2024
Tánaiste Micheál Martin described Ms McDonald's criticism of the interview as "an extraordinary response" and said that Sinn Féin "need to get on with it".
Mr Martin said it may be of more value for the party to "reflect on their immigration policy" and "a lot of people see the cynicism" involved in it.
