Yesterday, a house in Leixlip was burned down after false rumours circulated suggesting that it was going to be used for people seeking asylum. Four days ago, the old Crooksling nursing home in Brittas was burned down. On New Year's Eve, the old Shipwright Pub in Ringsend was burned down. It was due to house homeless people. We have seen 26 arson attacks in the past five years against premises rumoured to be used for asylum seekers. The pattern is very clear. A rumour starts, true or false, suggesting a property is going to be used. Far-right activists, people like Philip Dwyer, Gavin Pepper and Fergus Power, are quick to the scene. A few days later it is burned down.

We should call what we are seeing what it is. We are witnessing a campaign of far-right terrorism in this State. What has been the response? Almost nothing; nobody charged, fiddling while the country burns. We have finally had three arrests this morning for the arson in Ringsend. However, that can be contrasted with the State's approach to Debenhams workers, anti-water charges protesters and pro-Palestine protesters. Just a couple of weeks ago, seven special branch officers turned up at the home of a young Palestinian solidarity activist at 7.30 in the morning and arrested her. She was held for ten hours and charged with criminal damage, not for burning down a building but for allegedly putting some washable red paint on the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Look at how the political establishment is dancing to the tune of the arsonists, however, by cutting financial support and accommodation for Ukrainians, chartering flights for more deportations and forcing vulnerable asylum seekers to sleep on the streets. Some 750 of them are now living in fear of violent racist attacks. The BBC reports that this now includes women and children. Evelyn said she was threatened with a knife and given five minutes to leave before those threatening her would come back and stab her and her husband. The local Fianna Fáil councillor shamefully made excuses for the arsonists, refusing to co-operate with the Garda. The Government is going along with the lie that immigration is the cause of many problems facing our society. It cedes more and more ground to the far right and it legitimises its arguments. Of course, it would be politically uncomfortable for the Government to tell the truth that the reason we have a housing crisis is not because of immigration but because it puts the profits of big developers and landlords ahead of people's need for a home. We have a health crisis because the Government puts the private hospitals and insurance companies first.

Thank you, Deputy. The time is up.

We have deep inequality. We have neglected communities because of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael which have run the State since its foundation. That is why ordinary people need to take a stand against the terrorism of the far right, against the racism, homophobia, sexism and hate that it tries to spread, and against the housing crisis and inequality that the Government has created. It is why they will stand together at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday, 2 March in Parnell Square.

The Deputy has named three individuals who are frequently named in the public media and that is fine. However, he has named them more or less in the context of suggesting possible involvement in nefarious activity, in other words the burning down of buildings. That is not in order if that is what he was suggesting.

No. I can repeat what I said, if you want.

It is open to that conclusion.

I said the pattern is very clear. It is.

Just be very careful, please, Deputy.

Only Deputy Murphy could come into the House and seek to blame the Government for people burning down buildings. That was an outrageous contribution. He has actually made it more difficult for the Garda and our criminal justice system to secure successful prosecutions of people who are conducting criminal acts. He has not done anyone any service with the contribution he just made in that regard. We ultimately condemn any criminal act. Where properties are being deliberately set on fire, it is arson. It is a criminal act and the Garda is investigating.

The Deputy acknowledged that arrests have been made today in one particular case. The best thing we can do is to reaffirm our support for the work of An Garda Síochána and that we will give it the necessary resources and whatever support it needs to do its work. Let us be honest, these are difficult crimes to solve but the Garda will do everything it possibly can to solve them, send files to the DPP and ultimately achieve convictions. It is important we stand together and provide our support. These are heinous crimes that could not just end up damaging or destroying property but could end up taking human life. That is the real risk we are very concerned about and I know the Deputy is concerned about.

As a Government and with the support of the people, we have responded as comprehensively as we can to a wave of migration we have had to respond to, primarily because of the war in Ukraine. About 100,000 people from Ukraine have come to Ireland over the past two years because of Putin's invasion of that country. Our country has responded generously, as befits the people we are and which shows the generosity of our nation. About 75,000 of these arrivals are currently being accommodated in State-provided accommodation. In addition, last year we had in excess of 13,000 applications for international protection here in Ireland, which was an increase of about 177% on the 2019 level, the most comparable year recently. Nearly 27,000 people are being accommodated the IPAS system compared with just over 19,000 at this time last year. There is pressure on the system and we acknowledge that. Our population is growing. People are coming here, not just seeking international protection or seeking shelter from the war in Ukraine but seeking to avail of employment opportunities in Ireland and indeed the quality of life here.

The Government is working together to respond to what is a very significant challenge. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and his team have done a remarkable job in the teeth of the most difficult migration challenge we have faced, coming at a time when there has been a shortage of accommodation. However, we are working together and we will continue to support the Minister, IPAS and all of those involved in the State's response, which has been generous. We will continue to support people who come legally to Ireland within the rules-based system we have.

I ask Deputy Murphy to adhere to the minute that is available, please.

I am not blaming the Government for the burning down of these buildings. I am not sure where the Minister got that impression. Those who are responsible for burning down the buildings are those who burned down the buildings and the far right, which is whipping up false fears, spreading hatred, spreading division and creating an environment where this can happen. However, after five years of a terrorist campaign by the far right in this country, why has there not been a single charge of arson? I am asking that.

The Minister is saying it is a very difficult crime to solve and so on. I can tell him now that any building with the potential to be used for asylum seekers is under threat of being burned down. The State needs to be present to protect the buildings. Whatever about solving the crimes that have taken place, will the Minister please give a commitment that gardaí will be present to stop these buildings being burned down? Will the Government take people off the streets? They are in danger. This applies to both Irish rough sleepers, who are faced with inappropriate emergency accommodation, who are forced onto the streets and who should not be on the streets, and asylum seekers. The Government should not allow people to be in danger on the street.

I thank the Deputy. The time is up.

I am blaming the Government for the inequality in our society, for the housing crisis in our society and for the health crisis in our society which are exploited by those on the far right, who, instead of pointing their anger upwards at the people the Government represents, falsely blame the vulnerable in our society. That is what I am blaming the Government for.

Resume your seat, please.

I believe the Deputy did essentially blame the Government. He accused us of dancing to the tune of the far right.

Yes, of the arsonists.

He blamed them for burning the buildings.

Yes.

He is drawing a correlation which is completely unjustified and is not defensible.

If that is the way the Deputy wants to represent himself and his views in the House, so be it. I am not sure if he is suggesting that the State should provide security at every vacant building in the country. I ask him to bear in mind that some of the buildings that have been burnt down were not earmarked for international protection or for Ukrainians. The spread of misinformation and disinformation, with a small number of people seizing on this issue to spread hate and fear, ultimately results in criminal acts. The answer is not just a security response, although that plays a part. We will do all we can to support communities that are pushing back against the negativity and fear being spread. The most important thing we can do is to reaffirm and underline our fulsome support for the work of the Garda and our criminal justice system. They are doing everything they can to bring those responsible for these crimes to justice.