Working-class communities feel 'ignored and disrespected' by Government, Dáil committee hears

Protesters outside the Crown Paints plant in Coolock in July: Far-right activists 'have more influence because they're constantly on social media, they're generating misinformation about migrants or asylum seekers or direct provision or whatever they're trying to whip up'. Picture: Leah Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

The Government “doesn’t trust working class communities”, and far-right figures in such areas are having an “outsized” influence as they generate misinformation on social media, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

Addressing the European Affairs Committee on the topic of attitudes to democracy and the rule of law in Ireland, think-tank Tasc said not addressing inequality has had a knock-on effect for trust in politics, according to its research.