Tanaiste to meet with Ireland India Council over ‘spate of horrific attacks’

Tanaiste Simon Harris has said he is “deeply concerned” about attacks on the Indian community in recent weeks.

Mr Harris is to meet with the Ireland India Council on Monday after they requested an engagement about the number of assaults and threats against Indian citizens.

The issue has been highlighted after an Indian man was the victim of an unprovoked attack in Tallaght, Dublin, last month.

A silent vigil was held outside the Department of Justice by Friends of India in response.

The Indian embassy in Dublin has also issued a warning that there has been “an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens in Ireland recently”.

The embassy said it was in contact with Irish authorities about the matter.

“All Indian citizens in Ireland are advised to take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours,” it said.

Mr Harris said he received a request from the Ireland India Council about the issue.

He said he was particularly concerned about the reported attack on a six-year-old girl in Waterford.

“I’m deeply concerned by what we’ve seen happen in the last number of weeks,” he said.

“The Indian community in Ireland have made and continue to make an incredible contribution to our economy, to our society, to life in this country.

“There’s at least 80,000 people of Indian descent living here in Ireland, and I tell you, our health service would fall over if it wasn’t for them, so many parts of our economy would.

“We have seen a spate of brutal, horrific attacks, and one in particular sticks in my mind – of that poor six-year-old girl and what she experienced in Waterford, I think, is something that would sicken all of us.

“This is a good country. This is a country of ‘cead mile failte’.

“This is a country that recognises the incredible value that the Indian community have made. It’s a country that abhors racism, and we must continue to call it out.

“I think one of the most concerning things we’ve seen is the very young age of those that have been involved in some of this racist activity.

“So, tomorrow, I’ll take the opportunity to meet with the Indian community, to hear their views directly, and then to see what more government can do to help.”