Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like the Acting Leader and others, I attended Senator Mullen’s briefing this morning. Too often Senators can become very focused on local issues, particularly those of us who hold the dual role of serving a constituency as well as being Senators. We can get caught up dealing with county issues, constituency issues and national issues. When we attend presentations such as that given earlier by Senator Mullen, we realise there are people who have the same beliefs as us, who come from a Christian ethos and who are suffering abuse and torture and who are being executed. I agree with and second Senator Mullen’s proposal that an all-party motion to identify what is happening as genocide be tabled.

We are experiencing a whole new world order. It is a dangerous new order. As a nation, we pride ourselves in believing in equality and in respect for other religions and minority religions. Obviously, Catholicism is the majority religion in Ireland but it is a minority religion in other countries and these Christian people are being persecuted. We should not sit down, do nothing or say nothing. The Acting Leader should place that issue on the agenda of the House without delay. I suggest that the Leader’s office could work with Senator Mullen and other party leaders to agree the wording. It would send a powerful message to the UN and to other agencies that Seanad Éireann does not condone what is happening.