Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy McEntee, mentioned the spread of hatred and there is a problem in the community with people looking at material online, not only on the social media platforms but also on WhatsApp and forwarded messages. It is depressing to read messages that have been sent to me containing not only disinformation but also misinformation, hearsay and opinions that are taken as fact. There is a lack of critical thinking not just among young people but among people in their 40s, 50s and 60s in that messages are being passed on as fact. One came to me recently about a campaign by a Kerry company which was purportedly recruiting only non-EU workers and that was taken as fact. People were questioning whether it could have been true and, of course, there was no truth to it whatsoever. The Government could have a programme or an information campaign as to what is actually evidence and what is not. Someone saying, "I'm convinced that...", "I'm of the opinion of..." or "Everybody knows..." does not really mean anything. That is the type of information that is being sent around the community on WhatsApp groups. I welcome that the Minister has said the unregulated system for these social media companies is coming to an end.

For the purpose of this debate, it is worth outlining the extent of the arson attacks that have taken place in recent years and to put it in its proper context. I commend The Journaland its investigative arm, Noteworthy, on their work in compiling a list of suspected attacks. The first such attack which can be attributed to anti-migrant sentiment was at the Caiseal Mara hotel in Moville, County Donegal, which led to one person being injured. According to the Garda, 100 asylum seekers were supposed to be accommodated on site. Further attacks took place in January of 2019. There were attacks on the Shannon Key West Hotel in Leitrim and also on the home of my colleague Deputy Martin Kenny later that year. Sinn Féin representatives, North and South, have long-faced threats of violence and An Teachta Kenny showed immense bravery in the face of the criminal actions of others.

These attacks were warning signs for the Government that should have been heeded but it has continued to pursue the exact same disastrous policies since then, using isolated and disparate buildings, some of them not fit for human habitation and located in areas with few services. The for-profit nature of the system meant that large operators in small market towns ended up buying vacant buildings and renting them to IPAS, all at the expense of asylum seekers and local communities. The numbers of asylum seekers increased post the Covid pandemic, and as that happened and the need for the buildings increased, the Government has doubled down on this policy or non-policy.

Since then, of course, more and more of these sites have been targeted. The Journalnamed ten such attacks on proposed or rumoured sites for accommodation in 2023 alone. Some were on IPAS centres but there was an issue in Dublin relating to accommodation in Ringsend for Irish people who were homeless and needed emergency accommodation.

Since the start of this year a convent in Longford and a site in Brittas have also been targeted. There is simply no excuse for those engaging in acts of criminal damage.

There is a recklessness about the crime of arson, which is difficult to detect but extremely dangerous. People have been injured, property has been damaged, disharmony has occurred in communities and people have been traumatised. It is almost inevitable that lives will be lost if these attacks continue. At this time, it is worth remembering that those fleeing violence and persecution in their homelands then find it waiting for them here also.

There are a number of factors behind this violence, which is clearly organised and follows a certain modus operandi, such as we saw in the criminal riots in our capital city last year. The influence of the Internet through both open and covert organising and disinformation cannot be overlooked. The open presence of right-wing activists on social media platforms allows for the spread of racist and vile language, much of which is outright lies. These outlets clearly serve as a mobilisation tool for public protests, where they have had mixed results. The professional activists make it their business to travel around the country and whip up whatever they can among local communities who, by and large, want nothing to do with them. If this can be seen openly, it is not difficult to imagine the use of Telegram or other encrypted services allowing for organised attacks.

Arson is a difficult crime to detect and a lack of Garda resources has not helped. We do not need to go into detail about the history of the justice system in recent years, with long waits for court cases during Covid and thinning Garda numbers, but the need for investigative resources to tackle these issues is clear. I commend the apparent recent progress but it seems to be too little too late. There is a lack of gardaí in some counties and I understand in one county there has been no garda recruited in the past two years, only swaps. I understand there was security in at least one of the sites and an attack took place nonetheless. There should be increased co-operation between IPAS and the gardaí. We do not need to see the unacceptable confusion over whether the Garda had or had not been informed about a site in Galway and whether it was to be taken over or used by IPAS. While accepting these attacks are baseless and criminal, we must ask ourselves why they are occurring.

The Government has made a bags of the whole situation since the Skellig Star. The Government had a plan for a number of reception centres around the country but did not implement it. Not one bed has been delivered since the challenges with Skellig Star and the people, some of whom had Covid, being moved to Cahersiveen. The same system has been used since then.

We cannot overlook the influence of two factors. The first is the pressure on local services in rural areas, in particular. In Cahersiveen, there are currently two GPs in the area, one of whom is retiring soon. Services need to be put in place and Sláintecare implemented. On the main street in Cahersiveen is an empty building which was to be used as a primary care centre but has not been. Doctors should be in there servicing a community that is already under pressure. Shop units lie vacant and we saw what was in the report published this morning. Housing is expensive and families who have lived for generations in the same town are depressed because they are seeing their sons or daughters moving out and going to Australia.

Employment is scarce, seasonal or inadequate. Migrants and asylum seekers can help to revive these areas. More than 100,000 migrant visas were granted in 2022. They are the people staffing our nursing homes and hospitals and they are very welcome. They need to be supported with the right resources. Without this, and given the ad hocway the Government has done its business, opportunities for integration are missed. In its place, elements of some communities have their fears exploited by the far right. We need policies that avoid heaping further pressure on the private rental sector, student accommodation and nursing homes.

Sinn Féin would prioritise the creation of State-run accommodation - the same plan - while removing the for-profit element that has allowed one operator to earn €400 million since the direct provision system commenced, so the basic needs of Ukrainians and asylum seekers for shelter and safety can be met. The Government has failed in this area, particularly in not constructing State-led accommodation centres. A more progressive approach is needed.

One of the chief ways the far right exploits fears is by telling lies about the nature of the asylum and migration system. We need a system that is firm, fair and enforced, with the contributions that migrants make to life on this island recognised and highlighted. Open borders do not exist. Most asylum seekers produce documents at some point during the application process and checks are carried out, but a lack of communication has allowed the far right to claim the opposite.

It is clear from the ongoing genocide in Gaza and wars around the world in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Ukraine that we must do more to prevent war and combat climate change. The number of refugees globally has continued to increase and is likely to increase further. Nobody sets out on a boat crossing the Mediterranean, paying money to a people smuggler or taking other such risks to leave their home unless they have to. Ireland has a long history of global solidarity and if our anti-racist and welcoming culture means anything, we must tackle these challenges abroad and show global leadership.

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