Gleeson made these remarks in response to a question about whether the recent Dublin riots in November or anti-immigrant incidents in some towns had altered Ireland’s reputation as a welcoming country.

On Wednesday, the Dubliner launched a fundraising campaign, urging support for Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice on September 26th, organized by Together for Hospice.

Speaking at Bewley’s Café, Gleeson addressed issues like Ireland’s growing population and the challenges of an aging society. He cautioned against a “blame game” and instead encouraged fostering creativity, positivity, and kindness.

When asked whether the Dublin riots or protests in Coolock, where asylum seekers are set to be housed, had affected Ireland’s image as a welcoming nation, Gleeson stressed that people should be seen as part of the solution, not the problem.

“If you can’t move through the city or take a Dart without encountering problems… why not employ more people?” he suggested. Gleeson pointed out the irony of concerns about technology replacing jobs, while opportunities to enhance public safety and comfort remain underutilized.

“We should ensure that everyone, especially the elderly, feels safe,” he added. “There’s a tendency to view people as the problem when they are, in fact, the point.”

He acknowledged that politicians do not intentionally create these issues, but emphasized the need to involve more people in the solutions.

“If Ireland wants to remain a land of welcomes rather than division, it needs to invest in its people,” Gleeson said.

He likened the situation to bringing a gift home for a child when a new sibling is born: “You don’t make the first child feel left out; you include them by offering something that benefits everyone.” Similarly, he argued that if a community is set to receive an influx of people, it’s essential to invest in essential services like healthcare and social facilities to improve the area for all residents.

“That’s how you address these challenges—by easing existing issues rather than exacerbating them,” Gleeson concluded. “If the government is serious about accommodating more people, they need to bring a ‘present’ for the community, just as you would for a growing family.”