Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is mian liom dhá ábhar a ardú. Aontaím le Seanadóir Cummins agus Seanadóir Carrigy faoin ngá le díospóireacht ar na healaíona.I have often spoken in this House about getting clarity for theatres and arts and music venues. When the Government announcement is made this week on the arts, we need to have clarity. We also need it for dance and drama classes. It is not acceptable that there is a scramble after every announcement by those in the arts sector to find out the details of what has been announced. I ask the Leader to communicate with the Government directly to ensure clarity in the announcement later this week.

The Cathaoirleach will be aware that I have regularly raised the question of Belarus in this House. Currently, as a result of the actions of the tyrant Lukashenko, over 30,000 people have been detained unlawfully in that country. This is the equivalent of the population of a town the size of Navan. Dissent has been crushed. This weekend, we have seen the hijacking of an EU airline flying between two EU capitals. A journalist, Mr. Roman Protasevich, has been detained unlawfully. In addition, his girlfriend, Ms Sofia Sapega, has also been detained, purely for the crime of being his girlfriend. This is state-sponsored piracy. I welcome the strong response by the Taoiseach, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs but this is a defining moment for the European Council. If it does not take strong action, any journalist or anyone who wishes to dissent could be victim to this sort of state-sponsored piracy. What is going on in Belarus is no longer acceptable. I ask that some of our MEPs, who have been cowardly enough in the European Parliament to oppose or abstain from agreeing to sanctions against Belarus, be called out because this is about European values. The actions we now take are at a defining moment for Europe. I ask that a very strong message be sent from these Houses.