Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Yes, see you, Taoiseach.

The moral indifference and double standards of European leaders is really stunning to behold. For the last number of weeks we have rightly heard the Government and other parties in this House speak about the need for no Border, North or South, and yet the border that Europe imposes, which has resulted in 35,000 people drowning in the Mediterranean over the last five years, is a matter of complete indifference. I have asked the Taoiseach three times today to comment on what is happening in Libya. He has not uttered a word of response. In the last week, Amnesty International has produced a report making the most damning allegations against all European governments and the European Union. I will repeat for the record: "European governments complicit in horrific abuse of refugees and migrants". It goes on to say:

Tens of thousands are being kept indefinitely in overcrowded detention centres where they are subjected to systematic abuse...

European Governments have not just been fully aware of these abuses but are actively supporting the Libyan authorities in stopping sea crossings and detaining people in Libya. They are complicit in these abuses. European governments are actively supporting a sophisticated system of abuse and exploitation of refugees and migrants by the Libyan coastguard, detention authorities and smugglers in order to prevent people from crossing the Mediterranean.

These people are experiencing slavery, physical and sexual abuse, extortion for money and horrific conditions of detention. There are now 20,000 people living in these conditions. There has not been a word from the Taoiseach on this issue and he did not mention in his speech that this would be brought up at the European Council. He refused to answer questions on the matter twice this morning and then, probably because he knew we would raise the matter again, he walked out before the issue was raised. The moral bankruptcy of our Government and the European Union is absolutely stunning.

We also asked if there would be any move from our Government or the European Union beyond expressing concern and hand-wringing over what Donald Trump has done in the last week in declaring war on the people of Palestine and the entire Middle East. He has now legitimised the illegal annexation of East Jerusalem, in defiance of international law, by Israel. It has put two fingers up to the peace process and the two-state solution, which Europe claims it supports. Israel clearly has no interest in that solution. Since 1993 the number of illegal settlers, in defiance of international law, on Palestinian territory has doubled to 600,000. A 440 km wall separates Palestinians from their own land and from Jerusalem. There are 167 different enclaves where the Israelis are slicing up Jerusalem, Hebron and other Palestinian territories in cities in order to occupy the area further in defiance in international law. Nothing has been done.

Does anybody believe that the apartheid state of South Africa had a right to continue in existence? We all accept it had to end. The crimes that Israel is committing, which are now endorsed by the United States against the people of Palestine, are every bit as brutal, and in fact have been going on a lot longer than what happened in South Africa. There have been no sanctions and no action. There are expressions of concern. When is the European Union and our Government going to find the moral compass and demand action rather than words and crocodile tears about the abuses of Palestinians or Libyans?

See this speech in context