Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

In the last year, 74,000 people have come to these shores in search of safety and in need of sanctuary. The responsibility for that is being felt by each of us in all of our constituencies and constituents are looking to us for answers, including people who have come here seeking answers on their safety. Too often we are operating on the basis of innuendo and rumour and too often we are firefighting. It is not fair that we continuously have to contact one Minister, who answers our calls when he can, to seek answers to questions. It is time for a cross-party committee like the former Special Committee on Covid-19 Response, with each of us having responsibility to engage with the issue and collaborate because nefarious far-right groups are stepping in to take advantage and generate fear. I want to work collaboratively on this and to show leadership. I understand the pressure on the system so I ask the Taoiseach to set up a cross-party committee where each of us can get involved in this issue and show leadership, both in this House and in our communities. In the absence of that, nefarious far-right groups are stepping in.

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