Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

First, our thoughts and hopes for a full recovery go out to the young child and her carer and those injured in the horrific violent and criminal acts carried out last Thursday. Our thoughts are also with the teachers and staff of Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire.

Everyone who heard the news was numbed and shocked. There was deep concern and fear about what would happen afterwards. We saw on social media that right-wing racists began to whip up hate and call for violence. One well-known celebrity thug called for war on our streets.

The Minister talks about people's actions on social media, but nobody seems to want to hold, and this Government does not seem to want to hold, social media companies to the same standards as they spread hate and racism.

The violence that happened afterwards was absolutely unacceptable. It was a direct attack on our city by a cohort of people who have been stirring it up for years. The gardaí on the ground were left without adequate members, adequate resources or adequate supports. It was astounding to hear the Minister, Deputy McEntee, claim that control of the city was not lost for several hours. No person on the ground last Thursday or watching on social media believes the Minister. The evidence is overwhelming that control was lost. Garda cars were burnt and smashed, a bus worker was assaulted and dragged from his bus, which was then burnt, a Luas was destroyed, burnt, and businesses were attacked and looted. I was one of many parents who jumped in our cars to pick up our children and relatives who were in total fear and were left stranded because it was so dangerous that all public transport was withdrawn. If that is not losing control of our city, in the Minister's opinion, I do not know what the hell is.

What happened was predicted to happen, if not last Thursday then at some stage in the future. I met with Deputies O'Reilly and Daly recently on O'Connell Street and Talbot Street. Every single one of those businesses said the same thing: there was no point in calling the gardaí because they were not on the ground. They did not deal with basic thefts, only violent criminal acts. It is time for action.

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