Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, a house in Leixlip was burned down after false rumours circulated suggesting that it was going to be used for people seeking asylum. Four days ago, the old Crooksling nursing home in Brittas was burned down. On New Year's Eve, the old Shipwright Pub in Ringsend was burned down. It was due to house homeless people. We have seen 26 arson attacks in the past five years against premises rumoured to be used for asylum seekers. The pattern is very clear. A rumour starts, true or false, suggesting a property is going to be used. Far-right activists, people like Philip Dwyer, Gavin Pepper and Fergus Power, are quick to the scene. A few days later it is burned down.

We should call what we are seeing what it is. We are witnessing a campaign of far-right terrorism in this State. What has been the response? Almost nothing; nobody charged, fiddling while the country burns. We have finally had three arrests this morning for the arson in Ringsend. However, that can be contrasted with the State's approach to Debenhams workers, anti-water charges protesters and pro-Palestine protesters. Just a couple of weeks ago, seven special branch officers turned up at the home of a young Palestinian solidarity activist at 7.30 in the morning and arrested her. She was held for ten hours and charged with criminal damage, not for burning down a building but for allegedly putting some washable red paint on the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Look at how the political establishment is dancing to the tune of the arsonists, however, by cutting financial support and accommodation for Ukrainians, chartering flights for more deportations and forcing vulnerable asylum seekers to sleep on the streets. Some 750 of them are now living in fear of violent racist attacks. The BBC reports that this now includes women and children. Evelyn said she was threatened with a knife and given five minutes to leave before those threatening her would come back and stab her and her husband. The local Fianna Fáil councillor shamefully made excuses for the arsonists, refusing to co-operate with the Garda. The Government is going along with the lie that immigration is the cause of many problems facing our society. It cedes more and more ground to the far right and it legitimises its arguments. Of course, it would be politically uncomfortable for the Government to tell the truth that the reason we have a housing crisis is not because of immigration but because it puts the profits of big developers and landlords ahead of people's need for a home. We have a health crisis because the Government puts the private hospitals and insurance companies first.

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