3. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. [63183/25]
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The right to protest against the genocide in Palestine is being severely undermined the UK and this is being carried through to the North as well. I want to raise a case with the Taoiseach that he could raise with the Prime Minister. This is the case of Saoirse Wagner, a student at Queen's University in Belfast, who is being threatened with expulsion for taking part in a peaceful, calm and non-threatening protest on the issue of Palestine. The Palestine assembly in the college protested at the careers fair to highlight companies that are participating in the genocide. I think the Taoiseach will agree with me that taking part in student protest is a fundamental right and so important in our democracy. To threaten a student with their whole third level education being completely taken away for participating in a peaceful protest is something we should take a stand against. I ask the Taoiseach to make representations to the college. Saoirse is known to me. I know that she would not participate in anything violent. I ask the Taoiseach to take this case on board.
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I do not know about the protest.
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I have no idea what the Taoiseach is on about.
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I do not organise every protest in Ireland.
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We did not organise-----
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I am just correcting a mistruth there.
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We are not.
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Did you?
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Okay, I will look that one up.
Sentiment score: 0.23
Which party was that?
Sentiment score: 0.40
20. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach for an update on his Department’s plans to co-ordinate a range of actions aimed at regulatory reform. [65601/25]
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I raise regulatory reform of immigration and particularly family reunification. It is now being made much harder for many essential workers to be unified with their families, in particular migrant healthcare assistants who were brought over here on a visa programme and are working in private nursing homes. Last week on RTÉ radio, the Minister for justice was asked by the presenter whether these people are not entitled to a normal family life. They are caring for our older people and we have to show we care for them. The Minister's reply was that no one is forcing them to come here. That is absolutely heartless, shows zero empathy and is also completely counterproductive because many of them are nurses. They could go to other countries, but they have come to Ireland and are working below their grades or qualifications, giving huge added value to the nursing homes. I urge the Taoiseach to have a heart. We had a briefing here a few years ago, which Deputy Michael Healy-Rae attended because he knew the value of those healthcare assistants in nursing homes. These are essential workers and they will go elsewhere.
Sentiment score: 0.19
Please entitle them to have a normal family life. These mothers should not be separated from their kids.
Sentiment score: 0.16