Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

In calling for this debate two weeks ago when the Muslim ban - let us face it, that is what it was - was initiated, we and other Deputies wanted to send a message to Donald Trump about his racist policies not being acceptable. The question of airports remains relevant. Some of the impetus has been taken from the debate by the brilliant protests, which gave the three judges who blocked Trump's order the courage to take a stand against him. We will wait to see what happens, but the threat has by no means gone away. If the Taoiseach, Fine Gael or the Government is trying to pretend that it is okay to go to the White House on St. Patrick's Day, that will not be accepted.

There is a saying, "By your friends shall you be known". Let us look at Trump's friends and appointments. Carl Paladino, one of the key people who ran his campaign, wished death upon the Obamas and called Michelle Obama a "gorilla". These are the people with whom the Taoiseach will be shaking hands. General Flynn, who has been reluctantly sacked by Trump, said that Sharia law was taking over the US. He is anti-Semitic and racist and says that the fear of Muslims is rational and that Islam is like a cancer. He has been sacked because of his own stupidity regarding other issues, but these are the people the Taoiseach is going to be meeting. Steve Bannon-----

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