Seanad debates

Tuesday, 7 March 2023

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

12:30 pm

Photo of Lorraine Clifford-LeeLorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I rise to discuss the imminent sale of Nazi memorabilia at auction in this country. I am sickened, horrified and shocked that such items are being offered for sale and that people will profit from the sale of items connected with the most murderous, disgusting and appalling regime that has ever been witnessed. Millions of Jewish people were murdered, tortured and terrorised, as were gay people, Roma people, those with disabilities and those with mental illness. They were targeted through a prolonged period and millions of people were wiped off the face of the earth. Now an auction house thinks it is acceptable to sell these items. Many countries, such as Germany, Austria and Poland among others, have banned the sale of such items. We need to take action. We know there has been a rise of the far right in this country. Some people cling onto these pieces of memorabilia in some sort of honour of these regimes and derive inspiration from them. We should not be allowing the distribution or sale of these items. I listened to Oliver Sears speak on this issue on radio yesterday. His mother, Monika, survived the Holocaust. She is still alive. There are Holocaust survivors living in this country. Sons, daughters and grandchildren of those who suffered the trauma of that disgusting Nazi regime live in this country. It is difficult to believe that a business is selling these items. If it thinks the items are of historical significance, it should donate them to a museum and let proper historians assess their historical benefit, if any. These items should certainly not be allowed to be distributed or sold in this country or people be allowed to make money on the back of the most disgusting and murderous regime in history. We should send a strong signal from this House to the relevant Minister that legislation to ban the sale and distribution of Nazi memorabilia should be introduced without delay.

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