Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join in Senator Keogan's remarks about those who passed away over the past year, in particular due to Covid. Among those who passed away was the Senator's dear mum, who was a highly respected member of our community in Cavan.

I join in wishing a happy Christmas to the Cathaoirleach, his staff, Mr. Groves, Ms Doody, the excellent staff of the Seanad Office, who could not be more helpful or co-operative, all of my colleagues in the Seanad, who have been co-operative with me in my role as Leas-Chathaoirleach, the ushers and every member of the Leinster House staff. We have an excellent community with great camaraderie. Please God, everyone will come back well and refreshed after the holidays.

I had a harrowing experience yesterday. At the request of Libereco, a support organisation for Belarus in this country led by a wonderful man, Mr. Turlough Deenihan, I was on a call to the Samusenka family. Two members of the family, Aliaksei and Kim, are in jail. I have sponsored one and Senator Seery Kearney has sponsored the other. They are in jail in Belarus on trumped up charges without due process or anything having happened since last November. They are now undergoing something of a show trial. I asked about their legal representation - even their lawyers are being threatened. The entire trial process is shocking. They often cannot see relatives. The only time their relatives can glance at them is for a couple of seconds as they pass into the trial area. They are handcuffed at all times. Political prisoners are treated much worse than even well-known criminals. It is an horrendous state of affairs. Some 4,000 people have been jailed in this fashion. Some 4,000 people per year get arrested. There are constant arrests. Belarus has added a new criminal offence of supporting sanctions. If someone publicly supports sanctions, it is now a crime.

The mother of the two men and one of their wives was on the call. The family has been split up. The trauma is shocking. Some of them have to leave the country for Ukraine. I want the Acting Leader, Senator Kyne, to bring this matter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Cabinet's attention. The situation in Belarus is serious, horrendous and savage. I was not the better of being on the call for an hour afterwards. No one would have been. It was shocking. They were emotional and the mother broke down. The situation is horrendous and we have to do something about it.