Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak this afternoon following the appalling events in Dublin city centre last week. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the brutal attack at Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square. But make no mistake, the looting of shops, the burning of vehicles and the attacks on gardaí had nothing to do with honouring the victims of that assault. The riot was fuelled by hate and thuggery and there are elements within our society who have come to the fore in recent times: nasty, far right agitators, so-called patriots who wrap the tricolour around bigotry and intolerance and spout their hatred on social media. There are international figures too who speak of events in Ireland about which they know nothing. I urge people not to believe everything the see, read and hear on social media. Question everything. Seek facts and not lies or distortion of the truth. Do not let liars and thugs shape the narrative. It is worrying that, as the Irish Independentreports today, far-right activists were organising protests through social media within an hour of last Thursday’s stabbing attack. It beggars belief that any platform would allow a minority like this to foster hatred. The companies facilitating this must take their responsibilities as publishers more seriously like most of our Irish print, broadcast and online media do. They must stamp out disinformation and serve the common good.

The Minister for Justice and the Commissioner have my and the Government’s full support. They, and the ordinary members of An Garda Síochána and the emergency services who kept us safe last week, also have the support of most people across our shared island. The Government will not be found wanting in our response and I urge Deputies in this Chamber today to support these efforts and not to help sow further division.

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