'We have to wake up and defend democracy' from rise of the far right, says former Justice Minister
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Former Minister of Justice Frances Fitzgerald has urged voters to “wake up and defend democracy” against the serious implications of the rise of the far right in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe.
She has also condemned arson attacks against potential homes for refugees as “totally unacceptable”.
Her comments come as Gardaí have launched an investigation into an arson attack on Wednesday morning at a seven-bed bungalow in Leixlip, Co Kildare. Gardaí say there was misinformation circulating that the building was to be used to house refugees, but the Department of Integration confirmed it was not considering the building for any use.
That attack came just days after there was another at a vacant nursing home in Dublin, one at a hotel in Galway, and one at a pub in Dublin.
Speaking to reporters in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Ms Fitzgerald described the rise of the far right as “very serious”. She said: “I think it's really serious for the European elections.
“I think it's serious for democracy and I think we have to wake up and defend democracy. We see it in many countries here and you know, we have to watch it everywhere, and value our own democracy.”
She was asked if she was happy that the Gardaí and the government were taking the arson attacks seriously enough.
She said: “I would hope so. I mean, this is absolute criminal activity.
“I think we have to give a very, very strong message that this is completely unacceptable and that it is to be pursued from a criminal justice point of view, and people (should be) brought to justice.
“It's one thing to protest but to go into arson and danger to life — that has to be pursued. I'm sure the Gardaí are pursuing it and I hope we'll see results very soon in the courts.”
She said that although the rise of the far right in Ireland has not been picked up “that much” in European Parliamentary circles “yet”, she said the small number of people she has spoken to are “completely shocked” by it.
She said: “People would be very shocked in the smaller groups where I've talked about it. They’re completely shocked. It does not tie in with an image of Ireland at all and it is damaging.”