I move recommendation No. 40: In page 302, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “Report on variable rate of Vacant Homes Tax linked to property price inflation 100. The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on options for applying a variable rate of Vacant Homes Tax, which varies annually and is linked to annual residential property price inflation data as recorded by the Residential Tenancies Board, with particular assessment …

It is good to have the Minister of State here. I invited her this morning to provide an update to the House regarding Ireland's position on the European Union's proposed asylum and migration pact, which is currently under trilogue negotiation and due to be legislated for early next year. The Government has previously stated it will be after the negotiations have concluded before a decision is made on whether to opt into the pact under Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. However, …

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I have a question that she may not be able to answer for me today. If so, I ask her to bring it back to the Minister, who may be able to answer. Must we opt in to the pact as a whole or do we have the option to opt in to particular regulations within the pact? That is an important question, especially when we think of the cases of over-12s and whether they will be excluded from particular protections. It is important for us to understand whether Ireland has the option…

I move amendment No. 1: After the final paragraph under “abhors and condemns:”, to insert the following paragraph: “- classist, racist and dehumanising rhetoric directed towards marginalised communities, including ethnic minorities and those seeking refuge and asylum in Ireland;”.

I thank Senator Doherty for engaging with me on the amendments, especially the important one where we add the reference to class. It gives context to some of the scenarios which we have seen unfold. I start by expressing my solidarity, love and support to all affected by the attack at Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire last week. Those students will have that attack imprinted on their little minds forever, as will their parents, carers and teaching staff. They should have every support made available to them. Although I wa…

You did.

I press the amendment.

I move amendment No. 2: After the final paragraph under “abhors and condemns:”, to insert the following paragraph: “- violence directed towards ethnic minorities and refugees/asylum seekers;”.

I move amendment No. 4: After the third paragraph under “praises and acknowledges:”, to insert the following paragraph: “- the expedient restoration of public transport services through the coordinated efforts of Dublin Bus, Luas (Transdev) and Dublin City Council;”.

I move amendment No. 5: In the second paragraph under “rejects and denounces, and is disgusted by:”, before “those who caused fear and apprehension”, to insert “the actions of”.

I move amendment No. 6: In the third paragraph under “rejects and denounces, and is disgusted by:”, after “mindless violence” to insert “, and violence strategically incited by far right agitators,”.

I move amendment No. 7: After the sixth paragraph under “rejects and denounces, and is disgusted by:”, to insert the following paragraph: “- the classist and reactive analyses of last week’s events that have circulated in certain media, including on social media, which have completely failed to take account of the impact of poverty, deprivation and social exclusion on marginalised communities;”.

I move amendment No. 10: In the final paragraph under “calls on:”, to delete “and to bring forward such other legislative measures as she may feel are required” and substitute “and to bring forward such other legislative proposals as are evidently required”.

I move amendment No. 11: After the final paragraph under “calls on:”, to insert the following paragraph: “- the Government to provide increased investment in community, youth, social and public services to alleviate disenfranchisement, build social cohesion and encourage greater pro-social engagement in our communities.”

I was not going to speak today but I want to preface the discussions that will take place tomorrow by saying that we need to be very careful and nuanced in how we engage in this conversation because in terms of what happened last week, it is not one holistic group that shows up in any arena. Senators have said that we need to say that we demand a safe city but we have to understand that people engage in intense emotional reactions to things. They cannot regulate their own understanding of what they are being fed in…

What is the Senator's problem with what I am saying?

What is the problem?

What is the Senator's problem with what I am saying?

I did not interrupt the Senator. What I am saying is that we do not end anything by further ostracising people. It is not how it works, even the people with whom we completely disagree. Our communities are turning on each other and eating each other up while we all sit here and have debates. We call for more police while they are the ones who are still suffering. People with nothing are killing and destroying people with nothing. None of them have anything. They have nothing to lose and they are eating each other u…

It clashes somewhat with the session.