Seanad debates

Wednesday, 20 October 2021

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:30 am

Photo of Barry WardBarry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support the calls for a debate on antisocial behaviour, but also on general disorder in public and the lawlessness we have seen. I have raised this issue in the House previously. Much of that antisocial behaviour and, in particular, that lawlessness is directed towards people who are not Irish. That is a particular aspect that we need to address. Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting two Slovak-born men who were recognised by the Slovakian Government for their contribution to society. One of them, Joe Veselsky, a resident of Booterstown, is 103 years of age today. I congratulate him. He came to Ireland in 1949, having been part of the Czech resistance and lost members of his family in Auschwitz. Tomi Reichental was also recognised. He came to Ireland in 1959, having survived the Holocaust in Bergen-Belsen. It strikes me that many of the people we are talking about are the modern counterparts of these men. They are people who have come to Ireland and made their home here and who are contributing at every level of our society. I hope that, 60 years from now, we will be able to recognise the modern counterparts of these men who have come here from Brazil and other countries that are very far away and very different from Ireland, who have made their homes here and who have made themselves part of our communities and contributed to our society not only economically but culturally and in all the other aspects of a functioning society. They are doing that and there are people in Ireland who do not understand the value they bring to our society. As part of our consideration of lawlessness, public disorder, antisocial behaviour and all of the other aspects of behaviour in society, we must consider that these people are also part of our society. As a Legislature and, more importantly, as a community and a society, we must reach out to welcome them and to acknowledge the contribution they make.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.