Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On a more serious note, the recent horrific attack and mass murder of people in St. Francis Catholic Church in the Owo district of Ondo in Nigeria should horrify us all. We must have a debate in this House about the persecution of people for their faith worldwide, in particular the horrifying attacks that are going on against Christians in Nigeria.

I took part in a very interesting discourse of politicians from around Europe the other evening with Bishop Jude Arogundade of that diocese of Ondo in Nigeria, Fr. Joseph Bature of Maiduguri and Fr. Remigius Ihyula of Makurdi, all of which are areas where Christians are under attack. It will be known that the Bishop of Ondo noted that the first two bishops of his diocese where Irish. He had responded to President Higgins's recent comments on the atrocity and he very much welcomed President Higgins doing as he did before and condemning the atrocity, in particular the fact it took place in a place of worship. What the President had to say in the same statement about not scapegoating pastoral peoples who are victims of climate change was not so well received.