The Democratic Unionist Party unequivocally condemns the violence and wanton destruction that has been witnessed on the streets of Belfast and elsewhere in recent days. Our message to those who are responsible for organising, taking part in or inciting that disorder is simple: stop, and stop now. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been impacted on personally by that unacceptable wave of criminality: every business person whose premises have been destroyed or damaged, with their livelihood uprooted; every innocent person who has been assaulted or injured or feels fearful; and every police officer who has put themselves in harm's way to hold the line against rioters.

No one should have to live in fear because of where they were born, the colour of their skin or their religious beliefs. The targeting of homes, businesses and places of worship, including our mosques, is and always has been absolutely wrong. Let us be clear from the outset: anyone who perpetuates such attacks while citing love of Crown and country is deeply misguided. Civil and religious liberty is and always has been a cornerstone of our United Kingdom. Every July, as unionists, we celebrate and commemorate the defence of that principle in times past. It is something that our ancestors fought and died for, yet those who resort to racist and sectarian acts of violence serve only to besmirch their memory.

Northern Ireland has a proud history of welcoming those who seek better lives for themselves and their families and who have enriched our communities socially and economically. That will not change. It is abhorrent that some of our most dedicated health professionals have felt compelled to consider leaving Northern Ireland as a result of recent events. It is no exaggeration to say that, without their contribution, our health service and other essential provisions would collapse.

Yesterday, at the end of a day of meetings and interviews, I met three care assistants from the Philippines who live in the Woodvale and Ballygomartin area and work in a north Belfast care home. They have been here for some years, and they get on well with their neighbours, but they are now concerned for their safety after recent events. I assured them that I believe that there is no threat to their safety, and I left them my mobile number. It is appalling that they, along with many others who contribute to our society, suddenly feel unsafe in a way that they did not before.

I also listen to the concerns that residents raise every day, including on recent evenings, when I have been on the streets. They have concerns about difficulty in accessing housing, particularly social housing; concerns about the level of private-sector rents; and concerns about antisocial behaviour and so on. People will have different views on the extent to which migration to Northern Ireland, regular and irregular, has led to the pressures that we face. There are other factors at play, of course, not least the chronic underfunding of our public services. However, if we want to get to the root of the problem, all need to recognise that individuals have the right to lawfully express those concerns, including through engaging in peaceful protest. However, it is clear to me that some people are pushing those issues to direct anger specifically at foreign nationals who are living in our community. That is disgraceful. It is depressing to see that anger and hate, which are causing fear for many people, particularly foreign nationals who live and work in our community, including in our care homes, health service, local businesses and services. I appeal to people not to be exploited by those with a racist agenda. Unfortunately, you see a lot of incitement on social media. People should be wise to that.