Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Cairns for raising this very important question. I join with her in condemning the violent protests, the intimidation and the racism we have seen occur by some people at some protests in the past few weeks and months, and also the blocking of a public road. Restricting people's freedom is never acceptable. I also condemn the alleged assault of a man in his 70s in County Clare the other day. I extend my best wishes to him and I hope he makes a speedy recovery. I know the Garda will want to interview him and take action on the case.

There is always a place in a democracy for peaceful protest. People have a right to have their voices heard but engaging in violence, intimidation and racism and restricting the freedom of others in a public place is not a legitimate form of protest. I want to be very clear about that. I think the House stands united on that.

When it comes to this matter, we should never lose sight of the bigger picture. We are facing a major refugee crisis, not just here in Ireland but all across Europe. In most years we would have seen 3,000 to 4,000 people coming to Ireland each year looking for protection. In the past year it has been closer to 100,000 people, most of whom are fleeing the war in Ukraine but there are also a very large number of people seeking international protection from other parts of Europe and from outside of Europe. We are struggling to deal with it but I believe we have done a lot. Almost all of those 100,000 people who have come to our country in the past year have been provided with food, shelter, accommodation, access to health care, access to housing and access to education. In many cases they have been provided with employment as well.

I particularly thank the Garda for the work they have done in managing these protests. It is a very difficult job in a difficult situation. I also recognise the communities that have accepted newcomers into their communities. I was pleased to be present with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Heather Humphreys, in the north inner city in Seán McDermott Street only last week to announce €50 million worth of funding to communities around the country, recognising the value of their welcome and making sure that those communities benefit from investment in services and infrastructure. I have asked Ministers to work on the possibility of a similar fund again in a few months' time, given how well it has been received.

I absolutely agree that information and communication is important. More than 100 new centres have been established to accommodate people from overseas. In the vast majority of cases it has gone well. There have not been protests and communities have accepted those newcomers. I accept, however, that in some places things have fallen down and we need to do better. We all need to do better in that regard. I will give the House a small example. The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, and the Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, Deputy O'Brien, and their teams have done over 20 meetings with local elected representatives and community groups just in the short period behind us and this of course will continue. We are beefing up the communications teams around the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and led by my Department as well.

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