Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This afternoon our first thoughts are with a little girl and her carer who are gravely ill in hospital following a horrific knife attack. Second, we extend our heartfelt thanks to those who intervened, and to all the services for helping protect our capital city from mindless violence, and far right-fuelled hatred and fury. However, I want to raise the broader issue of migration policy in Ireland, both at national and local level, and to ask him as our Taoiseach to lead that discussion and communicate with and listen to those people who now feel excluded from that discussion. Last Friday night a potential public order situation was developing in Dromahair, County Leitrim, where rumours circulated that buses carrying migrants were about to arrive in the village. Crowds gathered, and I believe some outsiders arrived and some illegal checkpoints were set up, which should never have happened. The concerned residents of Dromahair called An Garda Síochána, and 90 minutes later two gardaí, who I believe were covering most if not all of north County Leitrim, arrived as soon as they could. As it turned out, no bus arrived and the situation dissipated. While I will raise the issue of Garda resources later with the Minister, Deputy McEntee, I ask why did this happen. How did this situation develop?

I do not have all of the answers, but I know this much. A few weeks ago I met with concerned residents in Dromahair when the Department wrote to inform them that 155 international protection, IP, applicants would arrive in their village. I contacted the Department asking for support for a village that has no community centre, whose national school has an emergency application in for two additional classrooms, where they are fundraising for a decent surface for their pitch and where their medical centre is already chock-a-block. I got no response - nothing. Thanks to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, the Department is now meeting them, but that is after Friday night. That is putting out fires. That is not proactive migration policy.

Will the Taoiseach speak openly and honestly to the Irish people? Will he fill that policy vacuum, and clearly articulate his migration policy to give people a sense that he and his Government are in control and in charge? It was recently reported that the Taoiseach spoke about the need to slow the flow of migration and to be realistic about the supports offered. Is that the Taoiseach's view and is it Government policy? Crucially, will his Government really work proactively with communities like Dromahair concerned residents who told three TDs at a meeting last Sunday that they will be first in line to help support and integrate families who may arrive in their village? However, they need to be assisted, enabled and to have their community capacity built to do so. Trust in communities is a fragile thing, and cohesion even more so. I am asking the Taoiseach to help restore both.

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