Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the far right, there is a huge number of historical studies going back to French fascism. I am not a French speaker but Maurice Bardèche - however you pronounce his name – defined himself as a Fascist writer. He is dead now but in the sixties he wrote a book and explained exactly what right wing is because he was talking about himself quite proudly. The definitions are there from people who hold those views.

Many of my comments when I speak about crime and criminality are not in relation to people who are extremely reasoned in their own thinking in terms of their ideology. My concern is those who get collected within that who do not necessarily identify with the ideology but perhaps identify with trying to find some sort of common enemy. That common enemy in their minds is sometimes government. One group will feel failed by particular governments or historically with regard to poverty and so on. The reason they then start relating to far right ideologies or sentiments is that they see some sort of common thread, such as “that group is against them, so we will join that group and be against them too”. I feel unwilling to give over the men I have worked with for many years and continue to work with to that ideology, which is why I keep trying to bring back alternative language to give to those men.

I wish to clarify something the Minister said in her contribution. In respect of the riots, did she say there is no personal circumstance that led to people’s involvement in the riots? Was that the sentence?