Unprecedented Two-Tier Citizenship Law To Be Forced Through In Last Week of Dáil
Responding to the legislation being proposed by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens for a two-tier citizenship in Ireland, Aontú Leader & Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has stated that this is a serious threat to equality, GDPR, privacy, the rights of young people and democracy.
An Teachta Tóibín: “The Irish Government has announced one of the most divisive pieces of legislation in the history of the state on the 4th last day of the Dail before the Summer Recess. They have announced an approach that is to my knowledge, again, is completely unique in the whole of Europe. No other country has introduced a law that has made indoor dining dependent on receipt of the vaccine. The words outlier and Irish government are becoming synonymous. We are the only country in Europe where indoor dining is closed and one of only 6 countries that still has not embraced the use of antigen testing”.
“The Government has gone from “we are all in this together” to affording in law more rights to one sector of Irish society and deleting the rights of others. This is shocking and will no doubt create significant opposition. Young people, those unable to take the vaccine and those for what ever reason have decided not to take it will be in practical terms second class citizens. This is the closest to mandatory vaccination in the whole of Europe”.
“Privacy in terms of Health Care is also being attacked. GDPR legislation as it stands would not allow for this type of information to be demanded in order to access a service. Yet now, that key principal will be binned by this government”.
That this is being rail roaded just days before the Summer recess is incredible. They government has already spent the last 16 months ignoring the Dáil and paying lip service to the democratic process. This is another shocking example. We heard backbench TDs from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael state in their parliamentary party meetings that they would vote against the legislation if it came before the Dáil. Let’s see if they hold true to that pledge!”
“The truth is the hospitality industry is over a barrel. Either they agree to the government or they go bust. Many are already on the brink, thousands of businesses and tens of thousands of jobs at risk. Aontú is pragmatic party. We believe that we have to get hospitality reopened. We also understand the need to protect lives and health. We are calling on the government to follow the same science and regulations as is already operating safely in Hotels and in the rest of Europe. To get the sector open we have even gone as far as suggesting that Antigen testing could be provided via Pharmacists”.
“But yet again this government has refused systems that are working successfully all over Europe and are choosing the most draconian and anti-democratic methods on the continent”.
