Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I echo the comments that have been made and express my disappointment about the decision of the British Government not to hold an independent inquiry into the case of Pat Finucane.

I also echo the comments of Senator Cummins. It does not make sense that cinemas, galleries and museums can open, yet theatres, which are safe and controlled environments, are kept closed. We will see far more people in retail outlets and supermarkets over the next few weeks than we will see in theatres. When theatres were permitted to open earlier this year, they were able to do so in a very safe and controlled way and they provided people with an opportunity for entertainment. I ask that consideration be given, in particular coming up to the Christmas period, to examining how our theatres can reopen.

We have asked on a number of occasions for a debate on the rule of law in Hungary and Poland. People will be aware that yesterday the Dutch Parliament voted to force its Government to take action before the European Court of Justice against Poland for breaches of Article 7 of the EU treaties. It is no longer acceptable that Poland and Hungary are holding vetoes at a European level, where they are constantly breaching the rule of law, there is no respect for the judiciary or freedom of the press and where minorities, in particular the LGBT minority in Poland, are being treated with such disrespect. The European Union is about values. I ask that we have a debate in the House on Poland and Hungary's continued membership of the European Union if they are not prepared to follow the rule of law.