Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am unsure that what is needed now is to link US capitalism with the protests taking place across America. What is needed is for political and community leadership to stand up against racism and reassure those who feel they are victims of it that things will change for them. As I stated, I have a very good relationship with the US ambassador. We have the kind of relationship whereby we can speak very bluntly to each other. I also stated that, in my view, the US Government is in no doubt as to the position of the Irish Government. The Taoiseach made that clear yesterday in his statement. This is not about trying to demonise people, although that is the kind of language the Deputy seems to be using. Rather, it needs to be about clarity of comment regarding racism and repression such that we can move on as well as learning lessons from many of the very unfortunate images we have seen coming out of the United States in recent days.

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