Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Ó Ríordáin. As I said earlier, the act was vile. It disgusted our country and it is not reflection of who we are as a people or who our communities are. It is not a reflection of how this country overwhelmingly has responded to welcoming new people to our country. Deputy Ó Ríordáin and most of the House have supported many communities throughout Ireland who have demonstrated great solidarity to those who have come here, often fleeing horrific circumstances, including war and persecution. Of course there have been challenges in providing accommodation and we need to be honest about this to all those seeking protection here. We need to look at the overall context whereby we have seen an increase from just over 6,800 people being accommodated by the State to more than 80,000 people being accommodated by the State in a period of only 18 months. The Department of the Minister Deputy O'Gorman, the entire Government and civic society are working on bringing more beds on stream to house those applicants appropriately.

There has been a significant number of protests on the topic of immigration recently. There is a small minority, and let us call them for what they are, which is far-right actors and activists, whose intention is to create division and who are engaging in intimidation rather than legitimate protest. We have the right to protest, and I am sure Deputy Ó Ríordáin has attended many protests and perhaps he has been protested at. I have also experienced both. There is a very clear difference between protest and crossing the line into intimidation and endangerment. Some of the scenes that unfolded in Dublin city, where those seeking protection had their belongings set on fire and the personal safety threatened, cross well beyond the line of protest into absolutely disgusting and vile behaviour and clearly crossed the line into criminal behaviour.

I have, of course, had a number of conversations and meetings with the Garda Commissioner and I am in regular contact with him. I thank the Garda members because they are working in extraordinarily charged environments in this city and throughout the country. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for operational policing matters. There is an ongoing investigation into the specific incident Deputy Ó Ríordáin has raised and a number of other investigations also. The right to protest is enshrined in the Constitution and under our law and it is an essential part of our democracy. We should never allow the line to be blurred between protest and the disgusting scenes that we saw on Mount Street in recent weeks.

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