Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak in favour of this all-party motion. I will begin with a quote from Robert F. Kennedy:

The United States was born in revolution and nurtured by struggle. Throughout our history, the American people have befriended and supported all those who seek independence and a better way of life.

If he were alive to see the America of today, he would find it far beyond the vision he had for his country and people. The United States is fast becoming an unrecognisable country. Children as young as one year are being kept in cages in areas which have been deemed to be concentration camps in Texas, with children whom they do not know minding them. We heard audio of children crying, wailing as they searched for their mothers and fathers, which is beyond reprehensible. It is disgraceful, disgusting and without excuse.

We are very afraid to condemn these actions. I wonder if it were Russia taking these actions, or other countries with which we are not so friendly, would we be as cautious in our words as we are being in this Chamber today? We have to very clear that we condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the actions of the Trump Administration and US immigration policy. These shelters have been termed "tender age shelters" for toddlers. Children are being torn from the arms of their mothers who do not know if they will ever get them back, which is beyond words. There is an element of disbelief across the world. We hear that there is to be some movement this evening and some law signed by the Republican Party to change this because, as President Trump said, "it looks bad." It looks far more than bad - it is downright disgraceful.

The damage caused by the trauma of what is being done to the children can never be repaired, even if they are reunited with their parents and I hope every effort will be made to do so. The United States should be championing human rights. It was the country which, 50 years ago, led the way on civil rights. It should be standing up for human rights, rather than stepping on people.

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