The Minister for Justice Minister has apologised to the people of Cahersiveen in Co Kerry, for the manner in which a direct provision centre was opened in the town in mid-March.
In an open letter, published as an advertisement in The Kerryman newspaper, Charlie Flanagan rejected calls to close the centre.
The first cases of coronavirus among residents of the direct provision centre at the former Skellig Star Hotel in Cahersiveen were confirmed in early April, just over a fortnight after it opened.
Residents and local people called for the centre to be shut down, on the grounds that it was not fit for purpose and social distancing among residents was impossible there.