Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of illegal pushbacks across the European Union and the devastating effects they are having on the victims themselves but also on the values that we so often hear proclaimed regarding the European Union. I want to quote directly from a report from the Greek Council of Refugees that was published two weeks ago and has not made any news on this side of the media. Regarding about 37 Syrians, including 17 children, who were effectively abducted by the Greek coast guard and Greek police, it states:

Once again the people were separated into a group of women and children and a group of men. They were ordered to take off their clothes, under wear and shoes. The women and men were mocked and harassed by approximately four men in military uniforms who used a stick to scratch their genitalia. Afterwards, they used the same stick to rape the men, while they used their fingers to rape the women in front of the children. Subsequently, they assaulted them by throwing ice cold water on them. A woman in police uniform led the women and children inside the building and ordered them to put their clothes back on quickly. They never got their shoes back. The men got back only their clothes, and were taken inside the building to a small room with a squat toilet, which could not be used. Soon after, men, women and children were locked up in one room. Everyone was asking desperately for water and food, but to no avail.

It is a horrific example but there are a host of more examples in this report. I confronted the Greek minister for migration directly in September in Athens. He used the phrase “fake news” regarding the appalling abuse. We should also remember our fellow Irishman, Seán Binder, who remains there on charges.

What is happening across Europe is absolutely disgraceful. It flies in the face of the values that we all claim to believe in. I ask for an urgent debate on the issue. I also would request that the Acting Leader would write to the Greek ambassador. Someone has to cry “Stop”. Someone has to cry “Halt". I feel confident that everyone in this room would be equally horrified by what I have read into the record today. The problem is it is going on and no one is saying anything about it. It is time that we cried "Halt" to these horrific abuses of our fellow human beings.