IN RECENT WEEKS, Ireland has witnessed a deeply troubling rise in hate-fuelled attacks – from racist assaults to homophobic violence. Each incident is a stark reminder that racism and hate have no place in our country.

Following last weekend’s shocking attack on Cork drag performers Krystal Queer and Lucina Schynning, we must face an uncomfortable truth: Ireland’s proud image as a welcoming nation is under real strain, and words of solidarity alone will not be enough to stop this rise in hate.

It saddens me that the Indian Embassy in Dublin recently issued a statement urging Indian citizens to take “reasonable precautions” for their own safety and to avoid deserted areas at night. This was in response to a series of racially motivated attacks against members of the Indian community. No person living in Ireland should ever be told to stay inside or change their behaviour out of fear of being attacked because of who they are or where they come from.

A worrying trend of hate and intolerance is growing across Ireland.

The attacks on Krystal Queer and Lucina Schynning last weekend were particularly distressing. As a gay woman myself, I can honestly say that I would feel less safe today holding someone’s hand in public than I would have ten years ago. Many of my friends feel the same. It is heartbreaking that people still feel they must hide who they are in public out of fear.

In 2023, hate crimes motivated by anti-sexual orientation were the third most common discriminatory motive recorded in Ireland – after anti-race and anti-nationality. This cannot be ignored. Our streets must be safe for everyone, regardless of their skin colour, gender or sexual orientation. Hate crimes against any community are an attack on the very idea of an inclusive, democratic Ireland.

During my time working with the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS), I saw first-hand the extent of racism experienced by people who come to Ireland to study and contribute to our society. Research by ICOS showed that 63% of international students surveyed had experienced or witnessed racism while in Ireland. A quarter of those incidents took place in public spaces – mostly verbal abuse – and 12% reported being physically attacked. Yet only 10% of victims reported what happened to them.

That silence speaks volumes. People are losing faith that the system will protect them or take their experiences seriously. We need stronger resourcing of the National Action Plan Against Racism and we need more Gardaí visible on our streets. The Government must act to ensure people feel safe reporting hate crimes, and that their reports will lead to real consequences for offenders.

We also need to strengthen our laws.

The current Hate Offences Act must be refined and built upon, and comprehensive hate speech legislation must be introduced without further delay. This is about protecting communities, not policing opinions. Alongside stronger laws, the Government must invest in public awareness campaigns on how to recognise and report racism and hate crime. These measures must be backed by real resources, not just rhetoric.

The myths and misinformation surrounding immigration must also be tackled head-on. The toxic rhetoric spreading online, particularly from the likes of the so-called “Ireland is Full” movement, is fuelling division and fear.

Democratic parties must take a stronger stand against these lies. We need an information campaign that celebrates, rather than vilifies, the contribution of immigrants to Irish life – in our hospitals, our universities, our restaurants, and our arts.

In 2025, Ireland is home to a vibrant mix of cultures that enrich our society in countless ways. Immigrants are supporting our health system, our economy, and our communities.

They deserve to feel safe, respected, and welcome.

The government must show leadership by standing shoulder to shoulder with those who have been targeted and by funding education, policing, and outreach initiatives that tackle hate at its roots.

Over the past two months, I have hosted roundtable discussions in Cork with members of diverse communities, joined by Labour Councillors Ciara O’Connor and Peter Horgan, and Green Party Councillor Honore Kamegni, Cork’s first Black Deputy Lord Mayor. These conversations revealed both the fear and resilience that exist within our communities. Together, we have made it clear: there is no place for racism or hate in Cork, or anywhere in Ireland.

We are stronger when we work together – across parties, across backgrounds, and across differences – to build an Ireland that lives up to its promise of equality and compassion.

In that same spirit, I am proud to be coordinating Cork Against Racism’s first Carnival this afternoon on Grand Parade. This will be a celebration of unity, diversity, and respect, featuring music and dance from communities across Cork. We are calling on everyone to join us – to stand together and send a clear message that Cork stands united against hate in all its forms.

Ireland’s strength has always come from solidarity and inclusion, not fear and division.

The risk in staying silent now is enormous. If we allow hate to go unchallenged, we will lose the Ireland we have worked so hard to build – one defined by compassion, equality, and the simple belief that everyone deserves to feel safe.

It is time to act, to speak up, and to stand together – because an Ireland built on equality is an Ireland worth defending.

Laura Harmon is a senator from the Labour Party and was previously a councillor on Cork City Council.