Sharp exchanges as Deputy Marian Harkin and Taoiseach clash in Dáil over immigration
THE Taoiseach and Sligo Leitrim Deputy Marian Harkin clashed in the Dáil on Wednesday afternoon of last week, January 24, after Deputy Harkin asked him to lead what she termed an honest and open debate on immigration. She told the Dáil that many people in the community are concerned and afraid, citing among other things the murder of Ashling Murphy in Tullamore in 2022.
However, the Taoiseach took exception to her remarks, saying it was wrong of Deputy Harkin to conflate “violence and crime against women in particular with migration”. He said it “is profoundly wrong and profoundly dangerous”.
Deputy Harkin refuted this and told the Taoiseach she would not be lectured by him.
Leo Varadkar pointed out to Deputy Harkin that Josef Puska, who was found guilty of murdering the schoolteacher was an EU citizen and had been living in Ireland for ten years.
A clearly frustrated Taoiseach challenged Deputy Harkin’s comments telling her that it was “really wrong” to connect that to a debate about international protection and migration.
Deputy Harkin stated: “Last November I asked you as Taoiseach to lead an honest, open, factual and respectful debate on immigration. So far this hasn’t happened and, in my view, until we treat out citizens as adults and trust them with all the facts, the nice stuff we want them to hear and the tough stuff they need to hear also.
“Until that happens Taoiseach people will and have got some of their information elsewhere and that is not always good.
“I want to raise one issue with you, the issue of young men who are seeking asylum. There are specific incidences where some communities have said they will welcome an integrated family, but not groups of single men.
“The knee-jerk reaction is unacceptable, is racist, these are far-right trolls.
“I am asking for a little bit of reflection and to cast your mind back just two years ago.
The Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, took exception to the question raised by Deputy Harkin.
He said: “I am disappointed in the question you asked, and I can see the faces of disappointed people around this house.
“I think the killing and the death of Ashling Murphy was one of those events that touched the nation. I remember so well and I remember the outpouring of grief for that young woman who was killed in the way she was, and I remember the anniversary a few weeks ago and I really think to connect that to a debate about international protection and migration is really wrong, as the evil person who killed poor Ashling Murphy was an EU citizen, had been in the country for the best part of ten years, working and paying taxes. That’s how he acquired his rights to social welfare and sadly, for whatever reason, he turned on that girl and killed her. But to connect that to international protection and refugees coming into this country, whether genuine or not, is really wrong deputy. Really deputy, don’t bring our country down into that spiral. It’s really wrong.”
Deputy Harkin responded: “Taoiseach, you’re disappointed. I’m disappointed that you didn’t engage with the real concerns I hear from people, and this is dividing people. I won’t be lectured. The last public meeting I attended, there were vile slurs spoken against migrants and I was the only public rep who called them out. Let me tell you Taoiseach, there were members of your own party at that meeting who shut their mouths, but
I didn’t, because I won’t listen to that.
“But equally when members of my community express are what genuine concerns I won’t close my ears and I expect this house, the house which represents the people of Ireland, to take this on board.
“We can’t just have the one narrative, we can’t just only have one perspective.
“I never said, and I said three times there is no evidence.”
Taoiseach: “Sadly, people of all sorts of backgrounds, all sorts of genders and all sorts of religions, races and colours commit crimes. But, to conflate violence and crime against women in particular with migration is profoundly wrong and profoundly dangerous.”
Deputy Harkin: “I didn’t do that.” Taoiseach: “Yes you did.”
Dáil bell sounding loudly.
Ceann Comhairle: “Let Taoiseach respond.”
Taoiseach: “In relation to your remarks against me, I have engaged. I probably engage in it every other day, in my constituency, in this house and in the media.” the