Tanaiste to meet with Ireland India Council over 'spate of horrific attacks'
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. Tanaiste Simon Harris
"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. KS Naveen and Anupa Achuthan pictured with their daughter Nia Naveen and their son Nihan Naveen in their home in Waterford on Tuesday. (Image: Jim Campbell)
"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."
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
15 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Further calls for Simon Harris to resign after death of child with scoliosis
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has said he will table a motion of no confidence in Tánaiste Simon Harris in October if another party does not do so. The Meath West TD is calling for Mr Harris to resign following the death of scoliosis patient Harvey Morrison Sherratt, who died at the end of July. Harvey, aged nine, received spinal surgery for scoliosis last December, by which point his spine had reached a curvature of 130 degrees. He had waited several years for surgery and became a focus of media and political campaigns which focused on a pledge in 2017 by then-health minister Mr Harris that no child will be waiting longer than four months for their scoliosis surgery in Ireland. In the wake of Harvey's death, his parents Gillian and Stephen have called for Mr Harris to resign. Mr Tóibín told reporters at Leinster House on Wednesday that although he has not spoken to Harvey's parents, he was joining in their call for the Tánaiste to resign. He said Aontú will not have an option to put down a motion of no confidence until October and vowed to do so if another party has not tabled one before then. Mr Tóibín stated that he had asked Mr Harris to meet Harvey's parents last September. 'We have to have accountability in this country, and this is the most serious thing that can happen to a citizen,' he said. 'What is the threshold for accountability if we don't have accountability? In relation to this, I've sent a letter to the Cathaoirleach of the health committee, asking for the Cathaoirleach to call on the Tánaiste to appear before the health committee to answer questions. 'The key element in all of this is, actually, we have to learn in relation to what's going wrong so that this doesn't happen to other children. I've also called on the Tánaiste to do the honourable thing and to resign.'
The Journal
43 minutes ago
- The Journal
Michael O'Leary has written to the Irish Times for 'slagging off' his Metrolink opinions
RYANAIR BOSS AND billionaire Michael O'Leary has written to the Irish Times, criticising one of the newspaper's columnist, for 'slagging' him over his opinions on Dublin's Metrolink. O'Leary and fellow billionaire Dermot Desmond have said the cost of the multi-billion-euro transport project is unjustifiable . They have questioned its popularity and whether future advancements in other transport technology will make it obsolete. Irish Times columnist Justine McCarthy wrote last week that their comments 'show you can be rich and wrong', and claimed there was a 'tang of Marie Antoinette's 'let them eat cake'' about the tone of their remarks. In a response to the newspaper today, O'Leary made it clear that he did not appreciate the remarks. He repeatedly cited an inflated price tag of the Dublin transport project. Advertisement The airline owner questioned how Ireland could 'seriously consider wasting approximately €20 billion of taxpayer money'. A €23 billion price tag first-appeared in a ministerial briefing to Darragh O'Brien earlier this year, a figure that was a 'potential upper range' cost but was not the estimated cost. The Journal 's FactCheck has previously highlighted that the figure is a misleading claim. There is a 95% chance the figure will not go above €23 billion – but the more-likely price range is between €7.16 billion and €12.25 billion. Throughout his letter, he criticised the columnist and questioned what expertise she held in transport when compared to him and Desmond, who was previously involved in the 2006 redevelopment of London City Airport in the UK. He added: 'If the next time Ms McCarthy wants to offer an opinion on government transport projects, perhaps she could address the cost benefit of the project, rather than slagging off two successful – albeit opinionated – business people.' Referring to himself and Desmond, he added: 'But sadly we are both guilty of 'being rich', so therefore dismissed by The Irish Times 'experts', who know so much more about transport.' Related Reads As another Irish billionaire criticises Metrolink, this transport expert says it's 'the only show in town' Minister says Ryanair boss is a 'successful' man but he's wrong about MetroLink Metrolink gets €2 billion funding boost - but no one knows what the final cost will be yet He said the Metrolink was a 'white elephant' and claimed that there were 'far better uses of taxpayer funds'. He maintained his opinion that the cost of the Metrolink 'cannot be justified'. O'Leary also sought to dispel assertions by the columnist that he was opposed to the construction Dublin Airport's second runway, clarifying that he was only opposed to the location of the new tarmac. Last month, transport minister O'Brien noted that while the Ryanair boss is a 'successful' businessman, he believed O'Leary is wrong about the MetroLink. He claimed that the transport project would enable future economic development. Brian Caulfield, a professor in transportation at Trinity College Dublin, told The Journal last week that the passenger volume of trains, such as the Metrolink, can't be bested. He said the project was best-in-class, compared with any future transport developments . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
44 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Irish women snub Defence Forces after bullying & harassment scandal as recruitment figures plummet below rest of Europe
Just 7.5 per cent of the Irish armed forces are women - a total of 567 out of 7,531 personnel ARMY STATS Irish women snub Defence Forces after bullying & harassment scandal as recruitment figures plummet below rest of Europe IRISH women are snubbing the Defence Forces following the recent bullying and sexual harassment scandal. By the end of June last this year only 17 new recruits have been inducted into the Army, Navy and Air Corp. 2 Minister Harris says the Irish Defence Forces is now a different place where women won't be treated as sexual objects Credit: � 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved The Defence Minister Simon Harris revealed that from 2022 to the end of 2024 just 114 females joined the Irish military - 37 in 2023, 37 in 2023 and 40 in 2024. He also confirmed that just 7.5 per cent of the Irish armed forces are women - a total of 567 out of 7,531 personnel. This number is way behind the rest of Europe where on average women account for between 11 to 14 per cent. It was also revealed that there is only one full time female pilot in the Air Corp at the moment although six women are currently training to be pilots. Government insiders admit that the shocking Women of Honour disclosures exposing a culture of rape, drink spiking and physical abuse is affecting the recruitment of women. The Dept of Defence is implementing a large number of Tribunal recommendations to ensure the abuse doesn't happen again. Minister Harris is adamant that the Irish Defence Forces is now a different place where women won't be treated as sexual objects. A female Colonel has been appointed for the first time as a Senior Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Gender advisor. He also confirmed the Defence Forces has established a female specific recruitment team which co-ordinates attendance of tri-service female specific recruitment teams at national and regional level events. Minister Harris said: 'A gender perspective is incorporated in all advertising. Fitness test requirements are tailored for females and a corresponding preparation video is available on the military website. 'EQUAL' OPPORTUNITY VOW 'The Joint Recruitment Office is also actively reaching out to female applicants in the recruitment pipeline in order to support them throughout the application process should they need additional support as appropriate. 'A Defence Women's Network was established with the aim of increasing the participation of female personnel at all levels of the organisation. 'The Government remains committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities.' It is understood that the numbers of men signing up for the military has stabilized and is on the increase following widespread departures in recent years because of low pay which has now been rectified. Mr Harris was responding to a number of parliamentary questions from Grace Boland, the Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal West.
