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

I thank the Deputy for raising Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, the childcare facility nearby which the children were being brought to and the people who intervened to help stop the attack on Thursday. Many more people would have been injured and perhaps killed had those brave people not gone with their instincts and intervened in the way they did. All of us send our solidarity to Gaelscoil Chólaiste Mhuire and the childcare facility concerned.

I had the opportunity to ring the owner of the childcare facility and speak to the principal of the school a few days ago and to offer them any help the Government possibly can, not just now but in the weeks and months ahead. They have received support from the National Educational Psychological Service. The main advice they have been given is, as much as possible, though it almost sounds impossible, to make things as normal as possible for the children in the school and childcare facility in the coming days. That is the advice they have been given and it is important we respect and comply with that ourselves.

I had the opportunity on Sunday night to meet some of those who intervened in the attack. I was given five names by the Garda; four were able to attend, from Ireland, Brazil and France. I thanked them for what they did to stop the attack. Without it, there would have been more injuries and loss of life.

On the management of protests, The Garda has policed 700 protests in the past year. Protests are commonplace in Ireland, as they are in any democracy. It is important we facilitate peaceful protests. The gardaí on the scene make a decision on an operational basis. None of us are experts in policing protests. Gardaí make a decision on the scene as to what approach is appropriate and escalate as they believe appropriate. Of course, there will be a review into what occurred on Thursday. An initial review is under way from the Garda Commissioner. The Policing Authority, I think, has the authority to carry out a further review, though we will have to check on that.

I concur with the Deputy on some of the language some people have used in Leinster House and beyond it in relation to migration. It is a difficult topic to talk about as politicians but we have to talk about it. It would be a mistake not to. Some of what has been said has stirred up prejudices and there are people on the far right in politics who will want to stir up further discord and encourage further violence. We have incitement to hatred legislation. I do not think it is strong enough or up to date enough. I know this House agrees because it has voted for the new legislation already. It is now in the Seanad. Even under existing legislation, the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation has a number of investigations under way.

See this speech in context