John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----regarding the occupied territories Bill. That is a question that is appropriate and this is my first exchange with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on the Government’s handling or mishandling of the occupied territories Bill and comments he made in defence of the rationale for not proceeding with the Bill. He cites reference to information received from the former Attorney General as to the reason why he could not proceed with this Bill. There is evidence to show that he misinterpreted or misquoted the Attorney General, which is the point I want to make. An opportunity to clarify this should be given to the Minister.

Time precludes me from covering all that I wanted to here today I will conclude by appealing to the Minister to place human rights at the very centre of Irish foreign policy. When will this Government address the conflict in Yemen, a veritable smorgasbord of international intrigue and interference which has led to untold suffering for the Yemeni people? Will the Minister speak to the plight of the Uyghur people of China who are facing cultural and religious persecution on a daily basis?

I also wish to touch on the whole issue of passports. My colleague, Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile in the Seanad, has led a campaign that the Minister will be well aware of to have a passport office opened in the North, the Six Counties, and there is evidence there to show the number of citizens in the North who have accessed passports over the last number of years. That demand is going to increase the closer we come to Brexit. The evidence shows that opening a passport office in the North would be cost-neutral. The time is right now to do that and all the evidence shows that the demand is there for it. We have grade A office space in Belfast that could be utilised for something like this. I urge the Minister again to look at this issue. There is a growing demand that needs to be met for citizens who live in the north eastern part of this island.

There are many more instances across the globe where nations and peoples are now looking to the Minister to be the catalyst that allows Ireland to be the voice that they need. If and when the Minister does so, he will have our full backing or, if and when he fails to do so, he will rightfully earn our ire. I urge the Minister not to let this moment pass. Gabhaim buíochas libh.

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