Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-15
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Ruth Coppinger (PBP), Dublin West

I would like to ask the Taoiseach about the consistency of his approach to world leaders and dictators. While the Taoiseach was in China, which was some time ago, the attack on Venezuela took place. The Taoiseach condemned the terrible regime in Venezuela while he was actually in China, which I did think was somewhat ironic. China is not a democracy and there is severe repression.
The Taoiseach mentioned the solicitor representing Jimmy Lai being targeted. Were Irish journalists who were part of the Taoiseach's delegation prevented from filming while he was there? Is that the case? This is an example of the Taoiseach staying silent on human rights issues when he is in front of global powers, as he did with Trump. Would the Taoiseach agree that, when comparing world leaders, the most dangerous leader in the world right now is clearly the US leader? The psychopathic tendencies in Trump have accelerated since the Taoiseach visited on St. Patrick's Day and the dangers for the world are just incredibly pronounced.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-15/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-15