Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will confine my comments on the budget to the statements on budget 2023 later today. Last Friday night, Culture Night was a success across the country. I offer my congratulations to all those involved, including the Arts Council, local authorities, Creative Ireland and all the other organisations. I was in D-Light Studios in Dublin 1. For once, it is a good news story. It was a studio that ended up being in NAMA and Dublin City Council bought the building. It goes to show what can be done to save studios. The Leader has heard me speaking previously about the hollowing out of arts spaces across this city.

All Members saw the reports on the horrendous death of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Iranian woman originally from Kurdistan who was killed in police custody in Iran last week. I listened to a radio interview yesterday morning with an Iranian woman living in Dublin who wished to remain anonymous and used the name "Zahra". She made a particular plea, which was that if you support women's rights and human rights, this is something about which you have to speak to politicians. We have to keep the story alive. That was her request to everybody listening to the radio programme. She is asking for us all to stand with Iranian women. I refer to the history of Iran, particularly going back to 1979 and what has happened since then in terms of the continuous encroachment upon women's rights, the initial decree for hijabs to be worn and now, in August of this year, the use of CCTV to monitor and fine unveiled women, along with mandatory prison sentences for any Iranians who question the hijab rules online. It is outrageous. What happened last week is horrifying. It is appalling that so many lives have been lost in the protests since then. We have to stand with women and all those in Iran who are speaking out now. I know the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has made a statement but I ask that we see something much stronger from the Government with regard to the Iranian Government. It is simply not acceptable for women to be treated in such a horrendous way.