Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)

Yesterday's historic visit by President Zelenskyy allowed us to reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Ukraine. It was also an opportunity to mark the huge efforts of people here who stood with Ukraine. Since Russia's illegal invasion nearly four years ago, 120,000 Ukrainian refugees have been welcomed here. In every corner of the country, Ukrainian men, women and children are now valued members of communities. While it was undoubtedly challenging at times to find accommodation, people rose to that challenge. More than 40,000 Ukrainian people have been accommodated by more than 22,000 hosts since the outbreak of the war. This scale of support is something we should always recognise and always celebrate.

It is particularly important to highlight the many positive stories of migration and integration now because we are seeing the horrific consequences of rising hate across the country. This week alone, there have been reports of three separate violent attacks. A Brazilian delivery worker, André Oliveira, was set upon by ten people in Dublin and beaten on the head with pieces of wood. He had to have brain surgery and is still recovering in hospital. Three Afghan asylum seekers were also attacked by a large group of up to 14 people who followed them with motorbikes and a car. During a co-ordinated and sustained assault, the attackers screamed racist slurs as they beat the men and smashed up their car. In another incident, a food truck belonging to a Venezuelan family who moved here in 2018 was set on fire and destroyed. These are shocking violent incidents and they are now happening at an alarming frequency. I am hugely concerned about where this is going and where it might lead.

For centuries, Irish people were forced to emigrate all over the world. For that reason, we have always understood migration and have been hugely welcoming but a divisive, hateful and dangerous narrative about migrants is now taking hold. This is not helped by a Government and some in opposition who continually frame migration as a problem or migrants as a burden. While this explosion in hate is mainly directed at migrants, it is experienced by people of colour. When difference is vilified, people's skin colour makes them all a target.

The Government has spent months talking about migration and is now vocal about wanting to reduce it. The Minister for justice's plans are entirely focused on framing migration as a negative. There has been no attempt to tackle rising hate and racism.

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