Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in absolutely condemning the horrific scenes of children of illegal immigrants being separated from their families. I say this as somebody who has huge respect for the people of the United States. It has been the leader of the free world. Any time I look at the Seanad or any democracy, I think we would not have a free democracy in the western Europe except for the United States. After the Second World War, it came in with the Marshall plan and rebuilt Europe politically and through economic stability. Every time I have watched the film "Saving Private Ryan" the hair rose at back of my neck with gratitude, admiration and pride. Today, listening to RTÉ Radio 1 as I came up to Dublin, as the parent of a young child hearing young children crying for their mothers and fathers, I had the same feeling but it was of dismay and disgust and a sense of being let down by a country that I absolutely believe in, the country I believe has been the leader of the free world. It has done huge work and it has never got thanks for it. It has taken the lead when it has come to preventing wars and stopping genocide and taking on despots. What is happening under President Trump is not on behalf of the citizens of the United States. He has turned on his allies in recent weeks. It is embarrassing to watch. He met the leader of North Korea, and I understand what he has to do, but this is a man who has killed anybody who has got in his way. Perhaps we need a recalibration. It is extremely worrying to see a country and democracy in which I believe going so far to a certain level, which is working with despots. There has to be a better way. This is not the right way.