Richard Boyd Barrett presses for action on English hunger strikers
Richard Boyd Barrett pressed the minister on whether the Irish government had made representations to the Starmer government over prisoners in England on hunger strike, who were designated as terrorists after protesting British complicity with what he described as Israel's genocidal massacre of the Palestinian people. He warned several hunger strikers were over 66 days into their protest, very near death, and said they acted in conscience opposing crimes against humanity.
Hunger strikers' condition and urgency
He said some of the prisoners in English jails have been on hunger strike for over 66 days and are now very near death, stressing the immediacy and life-threatening nature of their protest.
Designation by the British government
He stated that the British government had designated the prisoners as terrorists for protesting what they saw as British complicity with the actions of Israel against the Palestinian people, framing the protest as a response to alleged crimes against humanity.
Request for Irish government action
He asked whether the Irish government had made any representations to the Starmer government on the matter, arguing that the designation does not reflect the views of the majority of English people and warning that young people could die if no action is taken.
Correction of the record and criticisms of colleagues
He began by correcting the record, saying he had explicitly condemned the Putin regime, the Chinese regime and the Maduro regime as authoritarian and undemocratic. He rebuked Deputy O'Flynn for misrepresenting him, noted that the public pays his salary, and challenged claims of support for Donald Trump.
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First of all, I just have to correct the record, right? I said explicitly I condemned the Putin regime. And I'll do the same about the Chinese regime, by the way, right? Which is an authoritarian, brutal regime. And I also said that the Maduro regime was authoritarian and undemocratic. Is that good enough for you? So don't misrepresent me, Deputy O'Flynn. Don't misrepresent me. I'm just telling you now. Can we stick to questions, please? Who's paying me? The Oroctis is paying me the same as paying you. The public, the Irish public are paying me. Who's paying you me? Better question when you say you support Donald Trump. When you say you support Donald Trump. That's what you said. You support Donald Trump. We move on to... Anyone else has a question? Yeah, I have a question. Well, ask the question. Minister, the hunger strikers in England who are on strike in prison who have been designated as terrorists by the British government because they protested against British complicity with the genocidal massacre that Israel is conducting against the Palestinian people. Some of them now are over 70 days. They're very near death, over 66 days. Now, whatever you may think about their protest, about the hunger strike as a tactic, these people were acting in good conscience against what they saw as crimes against humanity. And they are facing death. They're facing death. So, what I'm asking, Minister, is whether the Irish government has made any representations whatsoever to the Starmer government because the reason they are in prison is because he has designated people who didn't hurt anybody as terrorists. Right? Much... You know... Starmer is not representing the views of the vast majority of English people in doing that. and young people now could die as a result. So, I just wonder, have the government anything to say as these people face their possible death? Deputy Tobin.
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