Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to raise with the Taoiseach the executive order introduced by US President Donald Trump last week to halt the US refugee programme and the introduction by him of a travel ban for nationals from seven Muslim majority countries. If we can get agreement on an all-party motion, Sinn Féin will be up for that. This executive order is a breach of EU and UN obligations, in addition to being a subversion of acceptable standards of decency and equality.

It is disappointing that the Taoiseach has yet to raise this matter with the US Administration. He should have expressed his opposition to the blanket 90-day travel ban for nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. He should have made it clear that he will not be implementing this executive order at pre-clearance centres in Dublin and Shannon. This order will certainly undermine efforts to improve relationships between those of all faiths and nationalities throughout the world.

As the Taoiseach just said, generations of Irish fled starvation, poverty and conflict here to make a new life and contribute to building America. Millions of them and their descendants are still there. Let us note that they are among the most outraged over these recent months. This Dáil should note that very many Americans are opposed to President Trump's policies.

The Taoiseach should have acted more decisively on this matter. I acknowledge he has initiated a review, which is welcome, but the Government's primary responsibility must be to ensure this fundamentally unjust order is not used in Irish airports. I would like the Taoiseach to make that clear in his response. He needs to introduce measures, if necessary, to ensure no one is a victim of discrimination and that no international or domestic law is broken. He needs to ensure that this State's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and other international agreements are fully observed.

There have been widespread protests in the USA and an understandable and justifiable international outcry at the actions of the Trump Administration. Will the Taoiseach take this opportunity to advise the undocumented Irish in the USA not to be alarmed by recent developments? Like the Taoiseach, I know from my contacts that many people there are frightened for their futures. Will the Taoiseach meet them when he travels to the USA? His primary focus has to be to engage with the diaspora, stand with the undocumented Irish and maintain our strong ties with Irish America, particularly as regards the ongoing process of change on this island. Will the Taoiseach assert clearly the Irish people's total opposition in the strongest possible terms to the racist, anti-women and anti-immigration policies of President Trump?

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