Racism is on the rise in Ireland, and it needs to be challenged. People of colour experience greater abuse on our streets. Arson attacks against accommodation centres for refugees have increased.
It is time to assert that Ireland is a country of welcomes. That means challenging the lie that refugees are responsible for the housing crisis.
Without migrants, our hospitals would not run. Restaurants and hotels would close. There would not be enough workers to build the houses we need.
The housing crisis is caused by a government that puts landlord interests ahead of tenants and refuses to use public land for social and affordable housing.
Those who seek to blame migrants are doing the dirty work of the rich and privileged. We need to face them down.
