Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like everyone else, my thoughts are with the five-year-old girl and the crèche worker who is still recovering in hospital. That is why we are all here today. I have absolute confidence in the Minister for Justice. It is 12 days since the riots took place in Dublin. I want to contrast the behaviour of Sinn Féin and the Minister. Within a day, Deputy Louise O'Reilly was calling for a head and for the Minister to be taken out. It sent a chilling feeling that reminded me of other, past times. It was chilling, unnecessary and irresponsible of Sinn Féin. The Minister has been out in public, working with the Garda Commissioner, reassuring the public and putting extra resources in place. Sinn Féin's behaviour today and for the past 12 days has been nothing short of irresponsible.

The public want the political parties to reunite. Those in Sinn Féin were not listening to the public. We saw it in the polls recently. Effectively, the public wanted them to work with the Government. They are either for democracy and law and order or they are not. At the end of the day, they should have come out immediately. This is an affront to democracy. This was thuggish, right-wing behaviour. The ordinary person the length and breadth of Ireland was absolutely appalled by what happened. What did Sinn Féin do? They certainly were not listening to the public. I wonder who they were listening to.

We have a Minister who has effectively listened to the public, been proactive and made Ireland and, more particularly, Dublin city a safer place.

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