Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Oisín Quinn, to Seanad Éireann. He has made available his home in the Mansion House to Members many times for different events. I attended the function for Senator Whelan's book launch, at which people had a most enjoyable evening. Consequently, it is only proper that Members would welcome him to Seanad Éireann.

I am sure the Lord Mayor and other Members will agree with me that the racist attack that took place recently on O'Connell Street, Dublin, against staff working in a Spar shop was absolutely appalling. It is reflective of racial attacks on non-national workers, better known as the new Irish, which are taking place in the city and around the country. I call on the Leader to make known to the Minister for Justice and Equality, Members' displeasure at these attacks and that something effective must be done to deal with them. It is completely unacceptable to think something like this could happen on O'Connell Street, the main street of the capital. I seek an end to such behaviour, which does not belong in a modern society.

I hope that the people who were victims of this assault are making a recovery. Racial discrimination and attacks are totally unacceptable. It is not the type of message we want to send out from modern Ireland and the great city of Dublin which this city is.