Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As a non-member, I thank the committee for allowing me and others to speak. I am watching the debate on a motion for a citizens' assembly on drug use taking place in the House, which is something I waited a long time for. I regret missing it, but this conversation is crucial. Deputy Murnane O'Connor is right to say it is an emergency.

I noted the reaction and how communities responded in Ballymun and Finglas. There is not too much difference between both communities. Yet, there was a very different response in each. We have to learn a little from that. The threat of violence was a key factor in chilling people's ability to show solidarity and leadership. Where there are threats of violence, we have to respond with a criminal justice approach. People can show all sorts of frustrations in a democracy but crossing that line, by threatening politicians, gardaí and youth workers, is unacceptable and it made a very significant difference. The layering on top of it of allegations around sexual assault meant, in what was an appalling situation, An Garda subsequently had to clarify the race or colour of the suspect. The key tactics of the far right were played out.

I acknowledge Councillor Caroline Conroy, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and her political leadership in Ballymun. The Lord Mayor's office, and Deputy Costello and I know it well, has the ability to convene that other political offices do not have. That was part of the success of what happened in Ballymun. I am not certain it can happen in every community. We have to look at who the convener is. In Finglas, if it is done by a group that has a specific purpose, it does not necessarily have the same connectivity with the community.

I have two questions, one from a schools' perspective. Children are hearing these conversations in their homes. We are preaching to the converted in this room, to some degree. What can we do to support and try to encourage those conversations at a school level? I was very conscious of what somebody said at one of the Ballymun for All meetings and I hope they will not mind me repeating it. It is that when the far right moves on, we still have to deal with these people. When I say, "these people", they are our people. I believe the far right includes a very small number of people but there is a very large number of people with concerns. It is okay to have concerns but there is an acceptable limit at which they can bring their concerns. Beyond that, some views should be unacceptable in society, such as discrimination based on the colour of someone's skin and so on.

Particularly for Ms Neary and Ms Ní Chonchubhair but for anyone in the group, what can we do for schools? The middle ground has concerns. How can we bring those people with us? Some feel they are being unfairly labelled by the term "far right".

Witnesses may think I am pushing them beyond where they are comfortable but four speakers have said they felt politicians had used language - I do not think they said "dog whistle" - that was unhelpful from a political perspective. It would be helpful if the witnesses were to name those examples, if they are comfortable doing that. To say it is one thing and I understand it, but we should hold people to account if they are doing that. If they are not, we should have a different view. It has been presented to the committee that comments have been made. The witnesses do not have to name the people but can name the comments.