Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Will the Leader arrange an early debate, three weeks from now, on the persecution of Christians across the Middle East? The suggested timing is because the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade has arranged for a number of Christian groups to attend to report and provide background information on what is happening across the Middle East. These groups include Trócaire, Church In Chains and Bishop McAreavey, the bishop who leads on Christian persecution within the Episcopal conference. To support my call, I quote the Archbishop of Tuam, Dr. Neary:

There has been an appalling lack of protest about the ongoing and severe persecution being faced by Christian communities in the Middle East and North Africa. In some cases, this persecution has taken the form of ethnic cleansing [...]. Ireland has a long and proud history of peacekeeping and charitable work throughout the Middle East and Africa. Our government can exercise a moral leadership in attempting to bring the EU’s focus to bear on this issue. This persecution is now part of a wider problem that has resulted in one of the greatest refugee crisis since the Second World War.

He also talks about the Mediterranean being turned into the world's largest graveyard. No one needs compelling persuasion on the need for this but it is extraordinary that there is so little focus in the media and at European level. What is happening to Christians is probably the greatest genocidal situation that is taking place in the world. Not alone are Christians being murdered, they are being sold into sex slavery. A number of young Christian girls have been taken from their homes and placed with ISIS and other Islamic fundamentalist fighters. I hope for the debate and timing it after the joint committee holds its meeting with various groups would be good. This would inform Members and we would have a better debate as a consequence.