Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I fully endorse the views of my colleague, Senator Flynn, who called for support for our healthcare workers. When President-elect Biden takes office the first thing we will do is look for support for the undocumented Irish. It is about time we faced up to the undocumented here and showed them similar respect. The migrant healthcare workers who have given such service, compassion and support in our hospitals, care homes, nursing homes and private residences for those who need extra care are living a very difficult existence because of the legality of their situation. It is about time the State faced up to the debt we owe these people and regularised their situation.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020 be taken. The purpose of this Bill is to make provision in law for hate crime against persons on the basis of their asylum or refugee status, race, colour, religion, nationality, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity. It essentially seeks to tackle hate crimes in a very effective and robust manner.Ireland is behind the curve in not having specific hate crime laws and such legislation should also improve the reporting and recording of hate crime, which is generally considered to be under-reported. There is an onus on us to make it very clear that hatred will not be tolerated in our society. I hope my colleagues will support my proposal to amend the Order of Business.