Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I want to condemn the intimidation and aggression outside asylum seeker accommodation in recent weeks. In Dublin, homeless asylum seekers were terrorised and their tents set alight. In Inch, we saw checkpoints set up on public roads with people asked to confirm their ID details before being allowed to walk around and go about their lawful business. In Santry at the weekend, masked people on the far right acted with apparent impunity and controlled entry into an industrial estate. Last night, it was revealed that gardaí in Corofin were investigating the alleged assault of a 70-year-old man during another protest against asylum seeker accommodation. He had to be hospitalised. The scenes we are witnessing around the country are frightening. There are fears of this violence and intimidation escalating. The explicitly racist language being used by far-right groups is giving cover to others to engage in more subtle forms of racism. Tropes about the dangers posed by people who are not local are now becoming alarmingly commonplace to hear.

Ireland as a country has always prided itself on being welcoming. For most of our history, we were a nation of emigrants. Millions of us left in search of a better life. Many who left Ireland suffered discrimination in the countries in which they sought refuge. We cannot allow that kind of targeted racist abuse and vilification to get a foothold here. That kind of behaviour cannot and must not be normalised or viewed as an acceptable form of protest.

Everyone in this House has a responsibility to show political leadership on this issue. There should be no equivocation about condemning the treatment of asylum seekers that we are witnessing. I commend the actions of local communities all over the country which have already welcomed tens of thousands of refugees into their areas. Many have and are setting up welcoming committees to help integration in their communities but they cannot do this work all alone. That is why we need to seek communication from the Government with communities, not to offer vetoes but to outline supports and provide resources that will help with integration. What we are learning so quickly is that without communication, there is a huge void and that void is being filled with misinformation, the consequences of which are horrific.

What is the Government doing to address the recent spate of aggression and intimidation directed at asylum seekers? The migrant integration strategy of the previous Government began in 2017 and concluded in 2021. When can we expect to see a new integration strategy for asylum seekers and refugees?

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