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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Police repression in Greece

Summary

Deputy Coppinger asked about reports of police repression and attacks on young people in Greece. The Tánaiste said it was a rule-of-law issue and asked for details of any individual cases to follow up.

The programme for Government talks about promoting fundamental rights and the rule of law. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, is the Tánaiste aware of or concerned about the situation in Greece, an EU country where socialists in the Xekínimia organisation have told me about increased police repression and, in particular, attacks on young people? Riot police, for example, raided a university and trapped and tear-gassed students. There was a cinema invasion to stop 16 year olds watching the film "Joker", and night clubs have been stormed. On Sunday night a group of young people were arrested, two of whom I personally know because I met them when I attended an anti-racist summer event in Greece. Irini Eminidou and Zisis Sourlas are two of the young people who were punched, beaten and charged with really serious crimes. That was hours after any protest had taken place in Athens. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, will the Tánaiste make representations about this to the Greek embassy? I ask other left Deputies to take up the issue. This is an EU country, not a so-called Third World country, where we are told police repression should not happen like this, but it is happening.

Comment on this
Simon Coveney The Tánaiste Fine Gael

Like with a lot of other things, this is not a left versus right issue. it is a rule of law issue. Deputy Coppinger should send me the details if she has individual cases she would like me to follow up on and I will try to do that.

Comment on this