Patrick Costello TD speaks on the Second Stage of the Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill. Full Speech Transcript: Like everyone else, the Green Party welcomes this Bill. It is a much-needed modernisation, expansion and improvement of necessary services that work with very vulnerable people. There are a few interesting things to note in the Bill….
Undocumented Migrants Residency Scheme
The Green Party has today welcomed the announcement that a policy paper has been prepared by the Department of Justice to set up a residency scheme for long-term undocumented people living and working in Ireland, along with their children. This is expected to enable up to 17,000 people (3,000 of whom are children) to apply…
STATEMENT: Pat Finucane Inquiry
This week the British government via Brandon Lewis MP, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced that it will not be holding a public inquiry into the 1989 murder of Pat Finucane. The alternative given was that the PSNI and the NI police ombudsman would carry out their own investigation. This pathway merely internalising…
United Nations Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2020
Today is UN International Day of Solitary with the Palestinian people. I previously worked as a Human Rights Observer in Palestine with EAPPI and saw first-hand the inhumane conditions people are subject to in occupied Palestine I have highlighted this in the past in my position as councillor on Dublin City Council and now in my…
WATCH: Debate on Domestic Violence & the Pandemic
19/11/20: Patrick Costello TD speaks during ‘Combating Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Statements’. Full Speech Transcript: Covid-19 has really highlighted the virus of domestic violence. We have seen a report tracking the shadow pandemic that shows that almost 3,500 women and almost 600 children who had never sought support or safety before are now reaching…
Online Leak of Sexual Images and the need for Adequate Legislation
The reports of the mass leak of sexual images without consent greatly concerned me when news reached me today. The Harassment, Harmful Communications, and Related Offences Bill was already due before the justice committee but this incident only serves to further highlight the need to expediate its way through the legislative process. This is a…
WATCH: Community Development Statements
Patrick Costello TD speaks on community development and the Green Party’s core belief that we need to work with communities not for communities Full Speech Transcript: A few jokes were made to me from one or two other Deputies about how there is probably not much rural development happening in Dublin South Central. This is,…
WATCH – Statements on Community Policing
In times like we are living through it is important now more than ever that our police force is adequately funded and can work well within the community. As justice spokesperson I have been liaising with Minister McEntee to increase the presence of our policeforce on the streets. Full Speech Transcript: This conversation dovetails nicely…
Passing of Palestinian Diplomat Saeb Erekat
I called to the Palestinian Mission to sign to book of condolences for Saeb Erekat. His life’s work was a negotiated just peace, this work must and will continue. I also took the opportunity to pay tribute to his work in Dáil Éireann. Full Speech Transcript: Given that this is my first opportunity to speak…
Green Party Launches Wellbeing Indicators
Today the Green Party published its Wellbeing Indicators Position Paper, aimed to measure the welfare of the Irish nation and look at the social benefits of our national budgetary decisions. The perception and experience of ‘wellbeing’ or quality of life can be subjective. Our GDP isn’t always a good reflection of how we’re really doing…