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Seanad
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Sectarian bonfires and cultural respect

Summary

Senator Currie condemned sectarian and misogynistic displays linked to 12 July celebrations and called for zero tolerance. The Chair agreed that cultural celebration should never demean others and urged public rejection of such behaviour.

-----or to burn the posters and symbols of your neighbours. If people celebrate their religion by threatening another, or if they use it to promote sectarianism or misogyny, we need to see outright rejection of this behaviour. We need political and community leadership and action. It is not that long ago that we witnessed an abhorrent video that was shared during Queen Elizabeth's jubilee. This kind of behaviour also comes from hate. At every opportunity, the despicable acts of sectarianism should be condemned.

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If we are stamping it out, we need a zero tolerance approach.

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Mark Daly An Cathaoirleach

I join with Senator Currie in wishing those on this island who celebrate the 12 July-----

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The term is "the Glorious Twelfth".

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Mark Daly An Cathaoirleach

I hope it does not rain at least. I wish the day to be celebrated in an appropriate manner. As Senator Currie pointed out, when people celebrate culture, they should not try to denigrate the culture of others. I have seen the posters and our national flag on the bonfires. That is not celebrating anybody's culture. I imagine that is the very opposite of what many people in the unionist community think is celebrating their culture. Senator Currie is correct that they need to speak out to say that does not represent a celebration of culture as they would like to see it. The more that happens, the more respect we will see when celebrations take place in both communities. I thank the Senator for raising that issue this morning.

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