I raise again - it was raised yesterday and in the Dáil Chamber - the second night of rioting and disturbance in Belfast and some other areas of the North. All of us were shocked and appalled by the images of the attack on the man in Belfast on Monday. A man has been charged and will face judicial process in due course. The response to that has been absolutely outrageous. The North has the unenviable record of being the area with the highest level of violence against women, and has had it for many years. We have seen some horrific murders of women in recent years. The community response to all of that has been dignified vigils and solidarity with families of victims, including the family of Natalie McNally from my county of Armagh, who have politically called out the racist pogroms we have seen in response to the attack in Belfast. People from ethnic minorities, many of whom provide vital services, particularly in the North's health service, have been attacked and had to flee burning homes with their children in loyalist areas of Belfast. It is reminiscent of anti-Catholic pogroms that happened in many decades over the last century.

We have to be clear and unequivocal in calling out racist thuggery for what it is. Political leaders have spoken collectively in response to this and that is to be welcomed but political leaders cannot stand shoulder to shoulder with masked loyalists who are shouting racist and sectarian abuse in Scarva on Saturday and decry the same elements as they go on a racist pogrom and rampage a few nights later. Leadership means stopping the poisonous narrative of fear and loss that has been fed to loyalist communities for a generation and which makes them easy prey for right-wing agitators in Ireland and abroad. It also means calling out the burning of religious effigies, our national flag, images of non-unionist politicians and mock-ups of refugees on boats on loyalist bonfires next month. It means promoting an honest dialogue based on respect and tolerance that equips communities to meet the many challenges that lie ahead.

I offer my support to the family of Pat Finucane who have finally, after 37 years, secured an inquiry into Pat's murder. I had the privilege of knowing Pat and I met him on a number of occasions. The family has fought tooth and nail for 37 years. This was the one inquiry and investigation the British Government tried its best to prevent happening. Now that they have finally got that inquiry, I hope we all wish that they get the truth behind his murder that has been hidden for many years and the family gets some degree of closure. That will make a significant contribution to ongoing challenges in dealing with the legacy of conflict in the North.