“THERE IS A growing narrative in this country which is trying to ‘other’ people because of their colour, race and creed,” Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

Martin told reporters that Ireland is at “a very serious crossroads in our society” and that he had met with young people who have told him that they are afraid to go into Dublin city for fear of being attacked.

“Young people are afraid now, not because of maybe general crime or criminal activity, but actually they are afraid because they know that because of their ethnicity, they are now a target,” he told reporters from the Child Poverty and Wellbeing Conference in Dublin.

The Taoiseach described how one young man told him that his sister was recently chased home from school because of her ethnicity. 

“Their parents might have been born abroad. They came to Ireland, they would have been born here, and they were afraid to go into town, they are being attacked,” he said.  

“I think the vast, vast majority of Irish people recoil at this,” said the Taoiseach. 

As a government leader, Martin said he will be reflecting on the issue and speaking to his government colleagues about how to set out a more strategic way of dealing with the issue.

‘Cherishing children, irrespective of their background’

“This is undermining the dignity of every child born in this country. We’ve always cherished children, irrespective of their background,” he said.

“These attacks should not happen and the type of language that we’re experiencing like ‘Irish for the Irish’ and all of that, is now having an impact where violence is happening and it’s tantamount to an incitement, and it needs to stop.” 

Martin said he recently met with all the interfaith church leaders in the country, who raised this as a topic for discussion.

“This is, to me, now, an emerging society issue for us all. Where do we want Ireland to go? What kind of society do we want?” he asked, stating that Ireland has worked hard to set out its values and its independence.

“We’ve developed, we’ve progressed, we can’t regress, and that means conversations and engaging with people,” said the Taoiseach. 

Micheál Martin speaking to reporters at the Child Poverty conference in Dublin today. Christina Finn Christina Finn

Businesses afraid for their employees

Businesses and employers have also outlined to the Taoiseach that they are now worried about their employees being attacked. 

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Martin said more than legislation is needed to tackle such violence, stating that a national conversation is needed now.

He called for a space for discussion to be created in society, but commented that many people are passive about the matter.

“They’re afraid of the reaction from someone, they just go about their business, but it’s getting serious. For the individuals concerned, it’s very dangerous and they’re afraid,” he said. 

The Taoiseach said there are lots of positives, highlighting that in schools and sports clubs, multicultural issues are being embraced and great work is being done to include everyone. 

“I would say to the Irish people, where do we want Ireland to go into the future as a society. We need to cherish the dignity of every child, irrespective of race, ethnicity. That’s it,” he said. 

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