Independent TD Mattie McGrath opposed the Dail holding a minute's silence in memory of George Floyd, whose death has sparked major protests across the United States, saying it was "jumping on the bandwagon, showboating and nonsense". A debate about racism is all just a cover - we want to be seen to be this great liberal democracy. Minister Madigan had wanted to deliver a short speech after the minute's silence that she proposed ahead of last Wednesday's sitting of the Dail. Social Democrats so-leader Catherine Murphy said that Madigan's previous opposition to Traveller accommodation in her constituency "would have prompted some of us to respond the way we did". Despite there being no formal debate on racism in the Dail, many TDs used their time to raise George Floyd's death, and racism in Ireland.

Source: Irish Independent June 07, 2020 01:36 UTC