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

I am not blaming the Government for the burning down of these buildings. I am not sure where the Minister got that impression. Those who are responsible for burning down the buildings are those who burned down the buildings and the far right, which is whipping up false fears, spreading hatred, spreading division and creating an environment where this can happen. However, after five years of a terrorist campaign by the far right in this country, why has there not been a single charge of arson? I am asking that.

The Minister is saying it is a very difficult crime to solve and so on. I can tell him now that any building with the potential to be used for asylum seekers is under threat of being burned down. The State needs to be present to protect the buildings. Whatever about solving the crimes that have taken place, will the Minister please give a commitment that gardaí will be present to stop these buildings being burned down? Will the Government take people off the streets? They are in danger. This applies to both Irish rough sleepers, who are faced with inappropriate emergency accommodation, who are forced onto the streets and who should not be on the streets, and asylum seekers. The Government should not allow people to be in danger on the street.

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