I commend the great Oscar wins at the weekend for Jessie Buckley and Richie Baneham and, of course, the win for the Irish rugby team. Yesterday, we watched the White House ceremony while the Taoiseach sat silent, utterly sidelined while US President Trump ranted and raved-----
Sentiment score: 0.47
-----about Europe, NATO, wind farms, Keir Starmer, immigration and much more. It is deeply disappointing that the Taoiseach did not push back harder against Trump's delusional ramblings, in particular to condemn Trump's illegal war on Iran.
Sentiment score: -0.46
To be fair, however, one thing we can be glad about is that the Taoiseach did push back against some of Trump's comments on immigration. I was pleased to hear the Taoiseach defend Europe and European migration policy and, indeed, say that Ireland benefits from our migrant communities and the skills they bring here. It was entirely appropriate for the Taoiseach to bring that message on St. Patrick's Day from a nation of immigrants because for generations the Irish national story was about our people finding refuge abroad. That is why the Labour Party has now asked the Government to launch a positive information campaign about migration in Ireland. We need a campaign based on facts and real stories. The fact that sectors of our economy and our public services, such as healthcare, hospitality and retail, simply would not function without the skilled people who have come here from other countries to bring their skills and experience. We need a campaign about the facts and the positive impact made by so many who have come here to seek work or, indeed, refuge from war or persecution. However, instead of that fact-based campaign we need from Government, we have seen far right rhetoric, myths and misinformation about migrants go unchallenged for far too long. We have seen intimidating protests. We have seen the appalling misuse of our national flag. Last week, we saw reports that the Minister's Department's new immigration strategy is apparently going to be for the benefit of the Irish people, founded on respect for social and cultural norms and the rule of law. That is somewhat concerning language, doubling down on some dog whistle rhetoric and using hostile language about inward migration amounting to the othering of people from different countries. I am calling on the Minister for justice to take heed of the Taoiseach's words yesterday on immigration and support the campaign Labour launched last week. We call our campaign Together We Thrive. It showcases the stories of migrants who come to Ireland and who have made a contribution by opening a restaurant in Dublin, being involved in and doing volunteer work in Sligo or teaching in Cork. These are the stories of people who came from Syria, Ukraine and India who have made such a positive contribution to our economy and our society. Therefore, instead of performative deportations and draconian legislation on immigration, let us see the Government now embrace this campaign; challenge the pernicious far right rhetoric on migration; and show solidarity and leadership with our new communities. Will the Government sign up to our Together We Thrive campaign? This is the real story of migration to Ireland.
Sentiment score: 0.16
I would not have gone.
Sentiment score: 0.00
That is right.
Sentiment score: 0.00
No shamrock ceremony for somebody------
Sentiment score: -0.30
The Labour Party has articulated a very clear migration policy of our own. It is, of course, fair, effective and rules based, but it also has room for humanity and compassion. It is interesting to hear the Minister's emphasis on a rules-based system because at the same meeting yesterday in the White House, the Taoiseach also raised with President Trump the need for a special deal, a legal pathway with the US for Irish immigrants. Certainly, it is very welcome to see the Taoiseach making reference to people from Ireland who are living in the US and who are in fear of ICE and the deportations being pursued by Trump, but the policy is very different to that being pursued here in Ireland. This week, the International Protection Bill, which the Minister has initiated, is on Committee Stage in the Seanad. There are hundreds of amendments tabled. In the Dáil, only amendments as far as section 22 out of 238 in Bill were reached. Draconian changes on family reunification were not debated or scrutinised at all before the guillotine was brought down. I could list dozens of other issues in the Bill. We did, as did other Opposition parties.
Sentiment score: 0.29
Will the Minister commit to having a full scrutiny of the legislation in the Seanad?
Sentiment score: 0.30
Will he launch a positive campaign on the benefits of inward migration?
Sentiment score: 0.74