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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Public safety after Dublin riot

Summary

Holly Cairns raised fears among migrants after the violent disorder in Dublin and said many people no longer felt safe. The Taoiseach described the violence as shocking and said the Government and Garda would respond robustly.

Under this Government's watch, there has been an unprecedented breakdown in law and order. The streets of this city were surrendered to a far-right and violent mob for hours on Thursday. We in Ireland like to think of ourselves as living in the land of céad míle fáilte, but tens of thousands of our migrant population do not feel welcome. Many now feel unsafe, threatened and even targeted. People now worry about their children when they leave the house to go to school or to meet their friends. It is an indictment on our society that there are people living in this country who are too afraid to leave their homes. Because of their skin colour or ethnicity, people feel there is a target on their backs.

A basic requirement of any government is to keep people safe and the events of recent days have proved they are not. Given this abject failure, on what basis does the Taoiseach have confidence in the Garda Commissioner and justice Minister?

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I thank the Deputy. What happened in Dublin last Thursday was shocking. Children were stabbed in broad daylight on their way from school to crèche and a riot then ensued on our streets that evening. I believe those are exceptional events and it is my job to ensure they are exceptional and that we do not see them happening again. That is why there is, and will be, a robust response from the Government and the Garda.

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