O’Gorman and Donnelly raise concerns over arson attacks on asylum centres

Dublin West TDs Roderic O’Gorman and Paul Donnelly have condemned recent arson attacks on buildings that are designated for asylum seekers.

In a Dáil debate on the issue, Minister O’Gorman said “what has happened in parts of the country over the past number of years is the antithesis of this democratic process.”

“The arson attacks we have seen recently are deeply sinister and are designed to intimidate and threaten the normal functioning of government and of this State. Make no mistake about it – this is violent extremism and it is being drip-fed by a feed of misinformation and disinformation.”

“The people taking these actions claim to be patriots. They wave our flag, yet they are literally burning down parts of our country which they claim to love.”

He said people who carry out arson attacks “do not care about the truth; they care only about advancing a very narrow and dangerous ideology, whatever the cost.”

O’Gorman added, “while undoubtedly these attacks grab headlines, over the past number of years, and in recent months in particular, we have seen a quiet welcome being extended by communities throughout the country to people arriving, seeking shelter from the war in Ukraine and other conflicts.”

“I believe these communities represent the best of Irish values of empathy, solidarity, an understanding of our history and an understanding of what it means to be marginalised.”

Local Sinn Féin TD Paul Donnelly said “it may be time to establish a special task force to co-ordinate a response to these arson attacks and the rise in hate and racism.”

Donnelly called on social media companies to step up and be more proactive in their moderation process.

“I have given up trying to understand what they mean when they talk about their so-called “community standards,” he told the Dáil.

He said he has reported “numerous blatantly racist statements on all social media platforms and not a single post or comment has been found to breach their community standards.”

“These companies have a responsibility and should be held accountable for the spreading of hate and their toleration of racism. If they do not act responsibly, it is up to the Government to take action to force them to remove hate-filled racist posts or be held accountable.”

The Dublin West TD said “it is deeply worrying that nobody has been charged with any of the attacks to date; this may only embolden them and encourage others to escalate their attacks on even the flimsiest of evidence and false or fake news.”