Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Taoiseach's recent attendance at the commemoration ceremony for the liberation of Auschwitz. It is particularly important as we see a rise in fascism and authoritarianism worldwide and a terrible rise in antisemitism. It is very important that the Taoiseach attended to represent Ireland. I always attend the commemoration in the Mansion House on national Holocaust memorial day and would urge parliamentarians on both sides of the House to do so. It is a powerful and moving event, which I attended this year on 26 January. I commend the Holocaust Education Ireland organisation that organises it. President Michael D. Higgins spoke at it and made a powerful, moving and sensitive speech.

We in Labour condemn racism and antisemitism. Is the Government going to take action on hate speech legislation, which was parked, shall we say, during the time of the last Government? In the context of the disturbing rise in antisemitism and hate speech worldwide, it would be useful to reconsider that.

On 16 January, the Taoiseach announced Ireland’s endorsement of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism. It is acknowledged that there are concerns about aspects of that definition. Did the Taoiseach instead consider the 2021 Jerusalem declaration on antisemitism, which includes a better definition of antisemitism drafted to address some of the concerns with the wording, which linked criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is important that we have the right to criticise the state involved in bombarding civilians.

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