The Minister for Justic Michael McDowell tonight said he had every confidence gardai could end the occupation of St Patrick's cathedral in Dublin as hunger striking Afghan asylum seekers threatened to kill themselves if evicted.
Mr McDowell said the matter was completely in the hands of gardai and insisted he trusted their professionalism and sense of duty.
"It is now for Gardai, using their own independent judgement, taking their own time and dealing with each individual who is in that place in a proper and professional way to bring this occupation to an end," he said.
"They have to uphold the law and operate in accordance with the law and I have every confidence in their professionalism and their sense of duty to uphold the law."
Mr McDowell said he would not be dictating the pace of events at the cathedral.
"I believe the cathedral authorities have indicated that they require St Patrick's Cathedral to be restored to its place, its proper place as a place of Christian worship and that the people who are occupying it for the purpose of protest should be excluded from it," he said.
The Minister added that under law the gardai were duty-bound to bring an unlawful occupation to an end.
The group of 41 refugees set up camp in the cathedral last Sunday afternoon and started a hunger and water strike in protest to their failed asylum applications.
They claim they fear they will be killed if they return to their native country.