Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

How did we end up with an agreement under which we have to pay €20,000 per refugee that we are unable to take despite teams trying with the best will in the world to work out a resolution and people offering their homes? How come we did not raise concerns about this wanton waste of money? Why are we being penalised without having any avenue to attempt to negotiate it or understand it? Are we just passive and nodding our heads at everything the EU wants us to do?

How are we so involved in the Ukraine war – we are involved in every way bar fighting – when we have ignored conflicts across the world? Thanks to the good offices of the Ceann Comhairle, Deputies Grealish, others and I have raised the persecution of Christians in all parts of the world a number of times. We are silent on it, yet we are nakedly involved in the Ukraine war. Other than going out there and fighting, we want to do everything to support Ukraine. We are blinkered. We ignore what happens in Israel and Palestine, but there are enough people talking about that. I want to talk about the other parts of the world where massive atrocities are happening and Christians are being persecuted day in, day out. Do they matter at all? Is it the colour of their skin that is the problem? Why are we ignoring those conflicts but involving ourselves overwhelmingly in this one?

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