Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. It cannot be the case that we live in a society that does not allow people to live without that fear. As the Minister outlined, there has been public consultation on the Bill she has brought before us, which started in 2019. I know that she has engaged with different stakeholders and officials in her Department on the Bill. The Minister has compared the legislation that we have in place with international norms and looked at what would work best within our system, jurisdiction and society, and would best benefit and protect the minorities here in Ireland.

We have a growing population of 5.2 million. As other Senators have stated, and as is the case in my own area, we have schools with 19 or 20 different nationalities and languages. The integration of different people and new communities who come to our country is happening now in towns, villages and cities, and it is happening at a very rapid pace. We are trying to keep up with that by providing capacity for childcare places, school places, and beds in hospitals. We are trying to keep pace with this, but it is a challenge because we live in a place where we were struggling with lack of investment in infrastructure for many decades. We now have an incredible boost to our society with all of these new communities coming here, but there are challenges and we need to be cognisant to the fact that traditional Irish indigenous communities, along with new communities coming to Ireland, are trying to adapt. We need to make sure that everyone here is feeling safe, which is not the case right now.

I acknowledge the Minister has been listening to the debate this evening and that she will take a lot of the comments on board. She will engage with all groups on this. I acknowledge the contributions of many speakers. Senator Flynn spoke very powerfully. Senator Ward spoke very strongly here as well about what has been put out in the media in relation to this Bill and how this must be based on fact. The Minister highlighted in her speech that the Bill is evidence-based. I know that she will respond to the contributions when we next debate the Bill. I acknowledge the efforts that are being made to make sure that Ireland is a place that protects the most vulnerable, which is what this Bill is about. I am very much cognisant of the time, a Leas-Chathaoirligh.