Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to say at the outset that my thoughts are still very much with the young girl and with her carer, both of whom are critically ill in hospital. What happened to those children and that school is an unimaginable tragedy. My thoughts are with them, their families, the school and the wider community.

What we saw unfold after that appalling tragedy was a small group of people, who do not represent me or the vast majority of people in this country, who took that tragedy and used it to sow division and hatred, spread fear in this city and to loot and riot. They are thugs. Those responsible for inciting that hatred and violence, for attacking members of An Garda Síochána and for setting buses on fire will be held responsible and will be brought to justice.

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