Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the confirmation that President Trump will be coming to Ireland on 5 June. To be clear, Sinn Féin fully respects the right of President Trump to visit this country, but we have been consistent in protesting his policies and we will be protesting when he arrives at Shannon Airport. I am very much struck by the irony of the fact that he will be meeting the Taoiseach at Shannon Airport. It is not that long ago that we saw Vice President Pence give a cheerleading speech or pep talk to US troops in Shannon Airport, our civilian airport, except it is not a civilian airport because anyone who flies from Shannon Airport will know that one is always surrounded by hundreds of US troops. It happened to me again just a few weeks ago. It is a pity, but it always seems to fall on the Deputy Leader when I ask for a debate on Shannon. For three years I have asked for a debate on the US military use of Shannon Airport and for three years I have been denied such a debate. I can understand the reason given that nearly 3 million US troops and their weapons have been transported through Shannon Airport to and from US wars since 2001. CIA torture rendition flights have also refuelled at Shannon Airport in direct violation of Irish neutrality and international law, including the Geneva Convention on War, the Hague Convention (V) of 1907 on neutrality, the Nuremberg principles, the UN convention against torture and the UN Charter.

I will protest at Shannon Airport and I encourage people to join in the protest. To be fair, Sinn Féin has been consistent. We protested against the foreign policy of the Obama Administration as well. People often forget that President Obama bombed seven different countries in his eight years. There is a consistent line in US policy that is very poor but it has got much worse under President Trump. I refer to his open racism and his misogyny. His warmongering, in particular in the past week against Iran, threatens the entire world in terms of a potential conflict. We can recognise the importance of our relationship with the US and our close families ties with the US, and still take a principled decision to protest against President Trump. Now is the time to do so. Future generations will look in puzzlement if we do not stand up and be counted. I was there in 1984 when President Reagan came. When we protested at Shannon Airport we were joined and led that day by Michael D. Higgins, who is now our President. There is a proud tradition of protest. I encourage everyone to come out in June and to protest against Donald Trump.