Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the case of Vladimir Kara-Murza. He is a politician and journalist based in Russia and an opponent of Vladimir Putin. He has now been jailed for 25 years simply for speaking out against Putin's regime, pointing out the folly of his war and identifying what is going on in Russia. We are very fortunate in this country. We may have plenty of reasons to disagree with Government, but we have the right to protest and to free speech. We know we can do it without risk of being placed in prison. There are many people in Russia who are opposed to Putin's regime, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, who has a young family, has been imprisoned for 25 years. I ask the Deputy Leader to raise this with the Minister for Foreign Affairs on our behalf, as is being done in democracies around the world, and to express to the Minister our solidarity with Mr. Kara-Murza.

I was not here during the Order of Business yesterday, but I was glad Senator Clonan, on behalf of the Independent Group, disassociated the other members of the group from Senator Keogan's latest xenophobic outburst. It is not acceptable that we see this level of racism in the House anymore. I can only say that if a member of my party tweeted like Senator Keogan did, he or she would lose the whip, action would be taken against him or her and he or she would lose speaking rights, because my party certainly does not tolerate xenophobia or racism.