Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis an gCeannaire. Beir bua leis an obair. I express solidarity with all those colleagues who have been subjected to appalling acts of hate and harassment over recent weeks and, indeed, a longer period. People in both Houses, and our local authority colleagues, have been the subject of shocking acts over recent weeks. This is not new, but we have seen new lows. I am thinking of my former colleague in Dublin City Council, Councillor Vincent Jackson, who has given a lifetime of commitment to people in Ballyfermot. To be subjected to that harassment is, frankly, appalling. People in this Chamber and those in local authorities have also been subjected to awful acts. I express solidarity with them.

These acts are not just confined to the political system. Many people, including those who are new arrivals in this country and who are living in refugee centres, have been subjected to intimidation and harassment. From talking to Dublin City Council officials, particularly housing officials, they say that the past six months have been some of the worst they have ever experienced in terms of the abuse and threats that have been made by people. We see members of the Garda talking about a new low. At the weekend, part of the hand of a garda was bitten off. These events are truly shocking. There are no easy answers, but conversations need to take place about how communities can either tear each other apart or how we work together to better the services that are needed. We all get that there are frustrations, especially as regards the lack of housing and other services, but we need to do something to end these awful lows we are now seeing.

I ask that the new Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, come to the House. Just over 27,000 workers work with some of the biggest employers in this country. They face huge uncertainty as to whether they will lose their jobs because their employers have said they will cut jobs across their global workforce in the coming months. At least 2,500 jobs have already gone. We know the temporary business energy support scheme is not working for quite a number of companies, with very viable restaurants having to close. I ask the Leader to request that the Minister come to the Chamber for a debate on that matter.