Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter for debate. It is very important that we discuss this and make our voices heard as a neutral country. I am in no way taking from the savage despicable war and slaughter in Ukraine but there are other parts of the world to which we do not give equal time. I thank Sister Kathleen McGarvey for outlining so clearly how Christians in Nigeria are under constant attack. Christians are under attack on a daily and hourly basis not only in Nigeria but also in Yemen and some parts of the eastern world we are supposed to have liberated. A US coalition of forces bombed places to bits. We saw what happened in Afghanistan. It is hard to believe that under some of the dictators Christians, minority Muslims and members of other faiths were allowed to worship with impunity and protection. Since the dictators were removed, people have not had the same freedom of worship. It is a shocking situation. It is hard to believe that in 2021 the Nigerian Government oversaw the slaughter of 4,000 Nigerian Christians.

The Nigerian Government has a one-sided view on the issue. It believes that it is a case of two sects fighting among themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is the slaughter of Christians with impunity by Boko Haram and other Muslim groups. It is atrocious. Our Government should be raising the matter at UN level, where we are represented on the Security Council. However, as far as I can see, our Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs are silent on the matter. I am calling on them to act and to call this out for what it is: the absolute slaughter of Christians. One would hate to wonder whether the lack of a response is due to the colour of people's skin. What is going on there is shocking. As I said, Uachtarán na hÉireann linked the slaughter of people in a Christian church in Nigeria with climate change. I do not know how that could have been dreamt that up. Nevertheless, I am thankful to the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise the matter. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's reply telling us what he is going to do. As a neutral country, we should be raising the issue to high heaven. We should be highlighting that it is happening throughout the world. As a neutral country, we have a proud record of peacekeeping. We should raise these issues. This week the Taoiseach was in Ukraine. Slaughter is going on in other parts of the world as well, yet there is not a word or a peep about it. The media seem to be very slow to report it. The issue must be highlighted. We must hold the Nigerian Government to account. I am a member of the International Catholic Legislators Network. I have heard first-hand accounts from Nigerian Members of Parliament and Government Ministers of what is going on. I am very concerned about it. Deputy Michael Collins also wanted to raise the matter today, but unfortunately he was called away and is not in attendance. I thank him for joining me in raising the issue. I hope that the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, will give us some hope and will outline what the Government is doing to highlight the persecution of Christians and other minority groups worldwide.

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