The Minister claims to have full confidence in the Garda Commissioner. She also claims that no one could have anticipated the appalling violence in Dublin on Thursday. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, was on "Prime Time" last night trying to push the line that none of this was foreseeable. He said that far right activists had used sophisticated communication online to rally their supporters - sophisticated communications. Far right ringleaders were posting public messages on Twitter, Telegram and on other social media platforms from lunchtime on Thursday. The messages were there for everyone to see. The question is was anybody in Government or in Garda HQ reading them. Apparently not, according to Detective Garda Niall Hodgins. Front-line gardaí were reliant on random WhatsApp messages sent by colleagues to try to get reinforcements. He said there was no plan and that it was absolutely chaotic. How does the Minister still have confidence in the Garda Commissioner when she hears that? How can anybody, particularly the people in the north inner city, have confidence in her?

I spoke to a detective in Pearse Street on Saturday who was actively engaged with the social media companies throughout Thursday. She was actively engaged with TikTok, Meta, Instagram and Facebook, and was actively engaged with Twitter or X. She said very clearly that social media companies, in particular TikTok and Meta, were responding and engaging with the Garda and were taking down these vile posts as they come up.

They are still up there.

X was not. It did not engage or fulfil its own community standards-----

In terms of foreseeing the protest-----

-----and that is why we are moving to a situation-----

It is not just taking the posts down.

-----where these companies do not get to-----

Please, the Minister without interruption.

-----self-monitor and that is why Coimisiún na Meán has been established to make sure that these companies are held responsible. While some were responsible, others were not. I reassure the Deputy that the Garda were seized of this and were engaging directly with the social media companies. When it comes back to the overall operational matter, it has been made clear to me that, yes, as part of the mobilisation plan, this did include WhatsApp. How does one get in touch with somebody if they are out and about on their phone?