Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It may be appropriate to face into the centenary commemorations around the revolutionary period from 1916 to 1921 and the subsequent counter­revolutionary period. Many long conversations need to be held about the actions of past governments and elements of the architecture of the State. These include a discussion of what took place in Ireland during the Second World War.

In all of this we need to heed rather than repeat the lessons of history. We must be mindful and vigilant, especially in this era of recession, of those who resort to racism and anti-Semitism. There are some in political life in Europe and beyond who hold similar views to those which led to the slaughter of the Holocaust and the Second World War. We must not be complacent when it comes to the prospect of fascism. While Greece does not have a history of fascism, Greek fascists did not fall from the sky. The violently aggressive programme of impoverishing a nation at the behest of the troika, the victimisation of Greek people and the pitting of citizens against one another is fertile ground for fascism. Members of the Golden Dawn party, which gained 7% in recent elections, openly give Nazi salutes and advocate fascist ideology. The party scapegoats immigrants and, in one case, threatened to remove immigrant patients from Greek hospitals which were running low on medicines. Golden Dawn appeared in Greece because racist ideas were allowed to fester in the public mind in combination with social dislocation and economic devastation.

We need to be mindful of this situation, not only in Ireland, but throughout Europe.

Thankfully, it appears the far right in this State is confined to the rooms of lonely men who lurk on far right Internet message boards posting racist messages or to the sad cases who believe that they can impress people by spray painting racist graffiti. However, Governments inadvertently fuel extremist right-wing ideologies through certain actions. I would urge caution, particularly given that, as we saw on television last night, elected councillors have freely called for apartheid for Travellers. Even a former justice Minister was alleged to have made racist comments during the citizenship referendum. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, and some judges have strayed close to making racist comments about Travellers. We must be mindful of our language. Otherwise, we will fuel an element that once gave rise to fascism. I am not making an allegation against any Deputy. Rather, I am urging caution. Some people feed on the type of language that we have heard in recent times, particularly as regards Travellers.

It does not take much for fascist or racist groups to gain a foothold when people are neglected and left weary from economic destruction and significant levels of unemployment. Even Mr. Nick Griffin in Britain managed to get himself elected to the European Parliament. These are dangerous ideologies and Greece will not be the last European country to witness a rise of a degree of fascism unless we address it early, something that Europe did not succeed in doing in the 1930s when the dangers were clear to everyone who was willing to listen and when the rest of Europe did not support those who stood by the republic in Spain in 1936 and beforehand.

While we are examining issues of the past and making right the wrongs, it is essential that we not impact on the future of the Republic while we are still attempting to create it. This Bill is an important part of that vital debate. It is believed that as many as 5,000 men deserted the Irish Defence Forces, 100 of whom are still alive. I hope this Bill and its amnesty as regards their actions will give them some solace. They are also owed the right to live out their days in a country that does not have the conditions necessary to feed into and breed fascism. They should never need to see the forces that they fought against during the Second World War return to the fore.

My party and I will support the Bill in the Dáil as we did in the Seanad. This welcome legislation will address the issue in question. Hopefully, it is a signal that many other wrongs will be addressed and that the issues I have raised will be discussed.

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