Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to the Chamber and thank him for his time. The motion is aimed at expressing our solidarity with the people of Iran, particularly the women and girls who are fighting for basic human freedoms. Like all Members, I am sure, I have seen clips online of these women standing up for themselves and each other despite the great personal risk they are taking on in doing so. Their courage is inspiring. I recognise that we live in a world where different countries have different cultures and different values, but there is no excuse for violence against women, no excuse for discrimination against women and no excuse for women not to have basic human rights, which is something the women of Iran face on a daily basis.

As Members will be aware, the death of Mahsa Amini was the spark for these protests. She was arrested for not wearing a hijab and, according to reports, beaten severely by the police for this, ultimately leading to her death days later in hospital. That such a thing can happen in 2022 is beyond belief. I can only hope that her death will bring about long overdue change in Iran and that these protests will achieve their aims. As all Members do, I am sure, I join the global calls for Iran to stop the excessive use of force which has so far been its response to these protests and resulted in at least eight more deaths. Iran must change for the good of its people and the good of the country. May Mahsa Amini and others who have suffered a similar fate at the hands of the Iranian police rest in peace and may their deaths not be in vain.I commend the Minister, Deputy Coveney, on his work in this area. I compliment Senator Chambers for bringing this motion before the House this evening.