Northside Fine Gael TDs call out “morally bankrupt” arson attacks

Northside Fine Gael TDs Alan Farrell and Richard Bruton have spoken out against the recent wave of arson attacks on buildings that were earmarked for asylum seekers.

During a Dáil debate on the topic, Farrell said that while people have the right to protest, they “do not have the right in any way to cause others to fear for their safety or to act in a way that threatens public order.”

In recent weeks, a number of arson attacks have been carried out on buildings that have been designated for use by asylum seekers, or in some cases, buildings that were targeted because of social media rumours and turned out to not be hosting asylum seekers.

“It should never be accepted that property is somehow fair game for destruction because of a particular ideology or stance against long-standing State policy.”

The Fine Gael spokesperson on Justice countered the online narrative that Ireland is full, stating that Ireland’s population once stood at 8 million and that Ireland’s population density is one of the lowest in Europe.

“To put it bluntly, we simply could not run our public services without migrant workers; anyone who has visited a hospital recently will have noticed the number of people from abroad who are working here,” Farrell told the Dáil.

“They come from a broad spectrum of countries and moved here because they wanted a better life for themselves and for their families and because we desperately need them.”

Farrell stated that as elected representatives, it was up to TDs to “inform people and reiterate that our immigration policy is robust and that sloganeering from politicians, both inside this House and outside it, or from those who try to manipulate the electorate for their own benefit cannot be tolerated and must be called out.”

He also said that arsonists will face the full extent of the law.

“An Garda Síochána is investigating 18 incidences of arson and 12 arrests have been made since May of last year; it is important to note that, if a group of people breaks into a premises and sets it on fire, it does not matter who lit the match; all could face a charge of arson.”

Fellow Fine Gael Northside TD Richard Bruton said that social media firms must do more to combat anti-immigration sentiment.

“The intent of those who seek to use these forces to undermine our community are easily fuelled by a social media that thrives on outrage and alarming portrayals of people that bear no relationship to the truth.”

He said clickbait that attracts most attention from social media while explanations from Government TD’s fail to cut through the noise.

Bruton criticised the arson attacks, saying a fatal attack has the potential to tarnish Ireland’s international reputation.

Calling the attacks “morally bankrupt,” he said “it really appals me to envisage what a society would come to if arson of buildings that could provide shelter for people being forced to leave war-torn areas were to be seen as part of some form of legitimate protest.”

He said that Ireland must use the current situation “as an opportunity for us, as a community, to step up and recognise that the society we have built so successfully has been built on international opportunity and international responsibility.”

“There is no doubt that war in Europe, the onward march of climate destruction and the resulting surging numbers of displaced people are putting strain on the values that we hold so dearly. Unfortunately, as others have said, the intent of those who seek to use these forces to undermine our community are easily fuelled by a social media that thrives on outrage and alarming portrayals of people that bear no relationship to the truth.”