An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2024-02-14
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Timmy Dooley (FF), Nominated by the Taoiseach

Much like others, I want to be associated with remarks in relation to the actions that need to be taken to address the crisis that has unfolded in the Gaza Strip. I had an opportunity to reflect on that yesterday.
I again ask the Leader to try to arrange a debate in this House, if possible, at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss migration and related issues. I raised this issue before. Quite frankly, many politicians from all political parties over the years have tried to not engage in this debate, because things were often better left unsaid. That has created a microcosm that has allowed certain far-right actors to put forward untrue tropes and information that have now unfortunately become part of common parlance. It is incumbent on all of us who believe in the importance of migration and truth in relation to this matter to stand up and fight back from a position of unity. We should start that in this House. I am concerned that some parties and individuals are observing the polls. Much of the misinformation has been unchallenged by mainstream politics. I am concerned that we are starting to lose the battle here. The polls are showing, sadly, that the general populace are believing the misinformation that is being disseminated. I am concerned that this may have a domino effect on mainstream politics. We need to begin the process of challenging the misinformation and disinformation that, unfortunately, many right-minded and solid people are believing because they are hearing it so consistently but are not hearing it being challenged. It is incumbent on us to have that debate and to take the gloves off. We must fight back against this outrageous slur that has been created around the issue of migration.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2024-02-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:52:39+00:00
Sitting date: 2024-02-14