It is high time we had a serious adult conversation about immigration in this country. By serious, I mean both appreciating the gravity of the situation and seriously looking for a solution as a result of that. By adult, I mean a conversation devoid of name-calling or labelling other speakers to allow people to dismiss their points out of hand, rather than engaging and addressing valid concerns. Up until now, perhaps we have had time to indulge that particular parliamentary laziness but that time has passed. It is time to sit down, acknowledge the problems and begin to hash out some solutions. Us Irish are a placid bunch. It takes a lot to get us riled up. Successive Governments have relied on this and implemented policies that the citizens of other countries would not stand for, but we are getting there. We do not do French-style protests but we did with the water charges and it worked. We are heading there now again with immigration.

I am sure many nicely-bound roadmaps and strategy documents exist laying out the Government's approach to inward migration into this country but what it looks like on the ground is this: the Government will not refuse migrants for fear of being called racist, xenophobic or uncaring. Having nowhere to adequately house these migrants, the Government must spend millions of euro renting hotels and converting office blocks in the greater Dublin area and surrounding counties, almost exclusively in areas that have historically been working class and-or commuter or satellite towns. Having secured such premises, the Government rents private buses to transfer large crowds of migrants into these areas.

If the locals are lucky, they may get some warning. The migrants are provided with a few paltry meals per day and left to their own devices. It seems in many cases they are left to wander around the towns and engage in antisocial behaviour such as fighting or harassment. Does that sound like caring for anyone? It does not benefit the locals and it does not sound as though it benefits the migrants either.

These people have come to our country to seek refuge.

The Leader can answer me later.

I can but the Senator is making unfounded allegations against people who have come here to seek refuge from war-torn countries. They have nowhere else to go.

The Leader can reply when I finish my contribution.

Senator Keogan has the floor. Just so Members are aware, with regard to Standing Order-----

The Senator cannot just make stuff up either.

There is nothing I am making up.

There is.

I respect the Leader's view. The hashtag, IrelandisFull, is trending on Twitter and will continue to do so. I saw one user clap back by saying our population density is much lower than that of the Netherlands. This would be the definitive rebuttal the person thought it was if we were taking in migrants to stand still in fields in order to achieve some arbitrary statistic of persons per square kilometre. However, we are not. We do not have the houses or healthcare system, which is looking for a €1.4 billion bailout. We do not have the transport infrastructure. This country, due to the policies of successive Governments, does not have the structural-----

I am object to this dog-whistle approach.

Can we have a debate on it then? Why do we not have a debate on it? Why are we not allowed to discuss this in a debate with the Minister?

There is no problem discussing facts.

This country, due to the policies of successive-----

I will be clear about the procedure of the House with regard to interruptions. Standing Order 39 allows for Senators to ask for 30 seconds. If the Senator in possession does not wish to give 30 seconds, the Senator in possession stays in possession, uninterrupted. Senator Keogan may continue.

This country, due to the policies of successive Governments, does not have the structural capacity to take in tens of thousands of migrants annually, yet this Government continues to do so. It is a policy devoid of reason and something has to change. There is still time to stop this from getting any worse. Let us start by having an adult conversation in this House with the relevant Ministers.

Ireland is by no means full. That rhetoric is quite dangerous and normally utilised by the far right. Senator Keogan needs to understand the difference between a migrant and an asylum seeker or refugee. People come here fleeing conflict, war and climate devastation in their countries and communities certainly need to be prepared and enabled for that. The vast majority of communities are open to that and prepared to open their arms to refugees and asylum seekers. The migrants the Senator speaks about come here to work in our healthcare service and hospitality sector and provide first-class services to our people. I am well up for an adult conversation but I want it to be rooted in reality and facts.

I wished to begin by reflecting on last Friday's judgment in the Aidan McAnespie case and commending the McAnespie family for their campaign of more than 30 years to fight for truth and justice for Aidan. The family finally had their day in court and their message to all other victims campaigning for truth and justice to never give up resonates with all of us. I know a number of colleagues called for a discussion last week on the issue of the British Government's so-called legacy Bill which, at its core, seeks to shut down those avenues of truth and justice for all families. I reiterate and support that call to have a debate on the British Government's legacy Bill, which Senators will remember this House unanimously rejected in a motion at the beginning of the year.

Today is also UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. It is, therefore, timely that we ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to update the House on what measures the State is taking to address Israel's policies of apartheid and how we are supporting the Palestinian people in their efforts for justice and peace. Perhaps it is worth considering, something we can explore this outside the Chamber, inviting the Palestinian ambassador to the House for next year's UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November and flying the Palestinian flag above Leinster House in an expression of solidarity, given that we also fly the UN flag.