Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle) | Oireachtas source

Before I call the Minister, I wish to express my thanks to the members of the Business Committee for agreeing to my proposal to discuss this important issue in the Dáil today on the anniversary of the massacre in Srebrenica. I had the pleasure of meeting representatives of Remembering Srebrenica earlier this year and I am very pleased that the Dáil has an opportunity to discuss the matter today. I commend the work of the organisation, Remembering Srebrenica. I welcome representatives of the group and their friends to the Public Gallery.

The events in Srebrenica 22 years ago still leave scars on the consciousness of all right-thinking Europeans. What happened to the Bosnian Muslims in this tragic episode in our Continent's history must never be allowed to happen again and must never be forgotten. Actively remembering asserts our collective dignity and rejects the venom of racial and ethnic intolerance.

This time in Dáil Éireann, therefore, allows us to remember that cruel massacre in 1995 and to express our hope across all sides of the Chamber that such events will never happen again.

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