Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has rejected any suggestion that gardaí took too long to respond to violence and public disorder in Coolock and take control of the situation.
Nineteen people were arrested, fifteen of whom have been charged and have appeared in court.
Four are expected in court on Tuesday.
There were no reports of serious injury among gardaí or members of the public.
Three garda cars were damaged during the incident, including one set on fire.
Petrol bombs were thrown, mattresses were set on fire damaging a JCB and fires were lit on the roads during the disturbances.
The Department of Integration said work to convert the site of the former Crown Paints factory into accommodation for around 550 international protection applicants had been delayed for several months.
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The trouble began after it emerged that trucks and construction equipment had been brought in overnight.
Commissioner Harris described the scene in north Dublin as unacceptable but described the violence as intermittent throughout the day which was quickly brought under control.
Over 200 gardaí were on duty and the Commissioner commended the public order and local gardaí for their response to what he said was "serious public disorder" within "a very volatile and difficult situation".
The Commissioner said that following the burning of a digger at the former Crown Paints warehouse in Coolock, gardaí had the situation under control from mid-morning.
He said there was a lull during the day and while a protest continued, violence and vandalism flared up again around 6.30pm.
He described this as "serious" but insisted gardaí were able to "restore order quickly in what was a volatile and fast-moving situation".
"We had a spike, we knew there would be further disorder which we dealt with within an hour," he said. "Gardaí experienced hostility and abuse, there were efforts to assault them, personal attacks and objects thrown at them and I commend their fortitude."
Two Garda cars were damaged but not written off and can be repaired.
Coolock Garda Station was closed to the public, but the Commissioner insisted it remained operational for most of the day as the Gardai "dealt with a very mobile group intent on disorder".
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Commissioner Harris said the violence was driven by "misinformation and disinformation" on social media "being promulgated about individuals seeking shelter in our country.
He said there was "significant disinformation and inaccurate commentary being spread," which was "all about creating fear, and fear leads to protest which is misinformed".
The Commissioner rejected claims that the movement of construction equipment on to the site under cover of darkness was in any was surreptitious.
"People knew it would be used for accommodation," he said, "there was no surreptitious approach. It was not covert. Everybody knew what the premises would be used for."
He also said that while gardaí were involved in the planning, the arrangements were between the contractors and IPAS.
A criminal investigation is now under way and further arrests and charges are expected. The Commissioner said the investigation will look at a range of offences committed today, including incitement, and would gather evidence as to what happened and what people said in public.
He also said body cams were used for the first time by gardaí from Store Street who were wearing them and that "will be very useful for evidence".
He also said as far as these violent incidents are concerned, gardaí would have to "take stock to see what our overall response will be from now on and make sure we are fully prepared".
He said the gardaí had "top class" protective equipment and incapacitant spray but he wanted water canon and was in the process of procuring it.
Watch: Machinery set on fire at former Crown Paints factory
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Taoiseach Simon Harris has described the scenes as "reprehensible".
Mr Harris said he has been briefed by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, and that the "law will be implemented".
He said the actions were designed "to sow fear and division". "We should not accept them being legitimised in any way by describing them as 'protest'," he added.
Traffic was diverted from the area earlier and one of the city's main arteries, the Malahide Road, was closed.
Peaceful protest was facilitated by gardaí who engaged with people at the scene, which attracted a lot of onlookers and children who are on school summer holidays.
However, tensions escalated, and fencing was brought on to the public road.
The Department of Integration earlier condemned all acts of intimidation of accommodation providers and their employees.
Earlier, the Department said the "proposal is for modular units placed inside the warehouse, providing mixed use accommodation for families, couples, single adult males and single adult females".
It also said "an experienced and trusted accommodation provider has expressed interest in the delivery of the accommodation and attendant security services under this proposal" and that "people seeking International Protection would be accommodated on a gradual basis under the proposal, and an estimated 500 people may be housed there".
