Yesterday's historic visit by President Zelenskyy allowed us to reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Ukraine. It was also an opportunity to mark the huge efforts of people here who stood with Ukraine. Since Russia's illegal invasion nearly four years ago, 120,000 Ukrainian refugees have been welcomed here. In every corner of the country, Ukrainian men, women and children are now valued members of communities. While it was undoubtedly challenging at times to find accommodation, people rose to that challenge. More than 40,000 Ukrainian people have been accommodated by more than 22,000 hosts since the outbreak of the war. This scale of support is something we should always recognise and always celebrate.

It is particularly important to highlight the many positive stories of migration and integration now because we are seeing the horrific consequences of rising hate across the country. This week alone, there have been reports of three separate violent attacks. A Brazilian delivery worker, André Oliveira, was set upon by ten people in Dublin and beaten on the head with pieces of wood. He had to have brain surgery and is still recovering in hospital. Three Afghan asylum seekers were also attacked by a large group of up to 14 people who followed them with motorbikes and a car. During a co-ordinated and sustained assault, the attackers screamed racist slurs as they beat the men and smashed up their car. In another incident, a food truck belonging to a Venezuelan family who moved here in 2018 was set on fire and destroyed. These are shocking violent incidents and they are now happening at an alarming frequency. I am hugely concerned about where this is going and where it might lead.

For centuries, Irish people were forced to emigrate all over the world. For that reason, we have always understood migration and have been hugely welcoming but a divisive, hateful and dangerous narrative about migrants is now taking hold. This is not helped by a Government and some in opposition who continually frame migration as a problem or migrants as a burden. While this explosion in hate is mainly directed at migrants, it is experienced by people of colour. When difference is vilified, people's skin colour makes them all a target.

The Government has spent months talking about migration and is now vocal about wanting to reduce it. The Minister for justice's plans are entirely focused on framing migration as a negative. There has been no attempt to tackle rising hate and racism.

I thank the Deputy.

Are there any plans for a campaign to highlight the positives of migration and what is being done to support migrants and people of colour who are now living in fear?

I thank the Deputy. I call the Taoiseach to respond.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. At the outset, I would condemn unreservedly the attacks the Deputy has referenced in terms of the Brazilian delivery person. I have also read reports in terms of three Afghan asylum seekers reporting to the Garda that they had been viciously attacked in their car. There is, and has been a growing, atmosphere, largely fuelled by elements within society that are far removed from this House, let us be honest, who are seeking to gain electoral and popular traction in respect of their views. The responsibility of this House and all parties in it is to make sure those views do not hold sway or get a disproportionate influence. That is actually the challenge facing us.

To conflate a Government seeking to create a fair and robust asylum-seeking process or programme with elements on the far right who are peddling hate is not fair and I think it is wrong. I would not conflate the two at all. People have had concerns about migration in society. There is no point in trying pretend, or put our heads in the sand, that people did not have concerns. They do. Our challenge is to articulate and engage with people with those concerns.

Hear, hear.

Ireland's population has been growing significantly. That is just a fact. Saying that does not mean we are inciting anything. We are not. It has been positive. My view is that since 1845 our population was in decline, right up to the 1980s nearly. It has been a transformative story from the early 1990s to the current day. That is a positive in my view. Even at that, the island is not back to the pre-Famine population status in terms of statistics and so on. It is an interesting perspective. In the past ten to 15 years, however, there has been very significant growth and that has created pressure on a whole load of services. I think the more legal pathways we create, the better for society and for our economy and so forth.

I am concerned. In terms of a campaign, a national policy is now being developed in respect of migration to update where we have come from. As part of that, there will be a communicative programme in terms of the importance of tolerance, inclusion and diversity and, above all, of explaining the phenomenon of migration and the benefits that have accrued to Irish society as manifested in our health service, in our education system, in services more generally and in our economy.

This Government is playing with fire and I think the Taoiseach knows it. It is choosing to frame migration in an overwhelmingly negative light.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

Multiple Ministers are now saying that net migration is too high but net migration reduced by 25% last year to fewer than 60,000 people. Of the people coming here, about 50% are Irish, UK or EU citizens. The vast majority of the rest are those who are here on work permits to keep our hospitals open, build the homes we desperately need and keep our hospitality sector afloat. Claims for international protection applications are also down significantly, by 40% this year. Why, then, is the Taoiseach and his Government choosing to frame it so negatively? The truth is we need people to come here and work. Our critical public services would grind to a halt if they did not. These workers are telling us they feel a shift, that racism is on the rise and they are reconsidering staying in Ireland and that is the real migration crisis.

I thank the Deputy. I call the Taoiseach to respond.

What is the Taoiseach going to do to address it? The campaign he is talking about is the EU migration pact one. Is there going to be a Government campaign to create awareness about this issue?

First, I disagree fundamentally. The Deputy is conflating the unacceptable behaviour of certain people in society with Government policy. That is wrong. The Deputy should not do that. She has been trying to do that now for a couple of weeks in the Dáil.

The Government is saying that the numbers are too high.

I think that is wrong. That is the first point.

No, that is wrong. I really resent that and I think it is not fair to do it.

It is your politics.

The Tánaiste was outside answering migration questions-----

The Deputy put the question.

I did not interrupt Deputy Cairns when she spoke, so I would appreciate the same facility and tolerance from the other side of the House in respect of this. There are legal pathways to work in Ireland. There always have been and we have a generous work permit system. There have also been visa-free arrangements with certain countries.

Every country has a sovereign duty and obligation in respect of who comes into the country and who leaves it, or certainly whoever comes into the country. Every country has that. There are always limits and there always have been limits. The Deputy is suggesting there should not be any, it seems to me.

That is what I have picked up. Therefore, all that is happening right now is that fair, robust and timely procedures are being put in place. The best way to do things is through legal pathways. That gives sustainability for the individual as well.

Thank you, Taoiseach. Time is up. We now move to-----

At all times, by the way, irrespective of what avenue people come in, dignity is important-----

-----Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice.

-----and the treatment of every individual with respect. Our education system has shown that.

Taoiseach, time is up. I call Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice.

Government policy through education has been very inclusive and we have very supportive of every child who comes into this country who needs to access education.