Paul Murphy Demands Debate on Asylum Seeker Safety After Arson Attack

Paul Murphy called for a parliamentary debate on safety for asylum seekers after a horrific attack in Drada he described as attempted murder and an attempt to burn a baby and children alive. He said the incident is one of over 30 arson attacks on asylum centres and linked the violence to far-right terror and to dog-whistling by government leaders that creates a hostile environment.

Request for debate

Paul Murphy said he wrote to the business committee seeking a debate on safety for asylum seekers and insisted the issue requires urgent parliamentary scrutiny.

Details of the Drada attack and arson campaign

He described the Drada incident as what seems to be attempted murder and an attempted burning of a baby and children alive, and said it is not isolated but one of over 30 arson attacks on asylum centres in what he called a campaign of far-right terror in the state.

Link between rhetoric and violence

Murphy argued there is a direct line between the dog-whistling of government leaders and the scapegoating of asylum seekers based on misinformation, asserting that rhetoric has contributed to the creation of a hostile environment.

Parliamentary timetable and ministerial statement

He was told the matter falls under tomorrow's statement on international protection, processing and enforcement. Minister Callaghan has taken that statement, it will run for three and a half hours, and Murphy will have the opportunity to raise his safety concerns then.