Taoiseach and Tánaiste condemn Charlie Kirk killing and warn of rising political violence
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk speaks at a Turning Point event prior to Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, speaking, Sept. 4, 2024, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have condemned the fatal shooting of US right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university event on Wednesday.
Micheál Martin said his thoughts and prayers are with Mr Kirk's wife and children following the "horrific murder."
"There is no place for the gun in politics, no justification for violence in democratic debate," he said on Thursday.
Speaking at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, he described the killing of Mr Kirk as an “absolutely shocking assassination”.
Mr Martin said it illustrated the “extreme nature of violence in our world today”.
“A person who’s involved in debate on a campus, to be assassinated in such a cold blooded manner, has sent shockwaves throughout societies across the world.”
Mr Kirk's murder has led to widespread condemnation of political violence from leaders in the US, Europe and beyond.
Tánaiste Simon Harris has condemned the shooting, calling it "appalling."
Mr Harris, who has been subject to a number of threats of violence in recent week, said that Mr Kirk's shooting on a Utah college campus was a sign that political violence is contagious.
Speaking in Lucan, Mr Harris aid that "the killing of Charlie Kirk is appalling and it's horrifying".
"It's deeply disturbing. And two young children have been left without their dad. A wife has been left without her husband.
"Political violence is never acceptable and must always be condemned. But it sadly seems we're living in a world now where political violence and political threats, rhetoric around violence and extremism is almost contagious right across the globe, and it cannot be tolerated.
"It's very easy for people to condemn violence, political violence, threats of political violence, when it's against somebody that they agree with. It's actually more important that it's condemned when that violence is carried out against somebody whom you may have different views."
He said that his former cabinet colleague Roderic O'Gorman had "made some interesting points in relation to things that I don't pretend to technically understand, but things like the algorithms, what is being sent at people, what is being directed at people on their smartphones at all sorts of ages".
Speaking at his party's think-in on Thursday, the Green Party leader said he is concerned that Ireland is reaching a "tipping point."
"I am worried that some morning we are going to turn on Morning Ireland and hear not a report of it happening in the States or the UK but something happening here," Mr O'Gorman said.
"This has to be a concern for everybody across all parties and across all political perspectives."
The Dublin West TD has also been the victim of threats and abuse, both online and in person.
While violence in politics is not new, Mr O'Gorman said the sheer scale of recent political violence is unprecedented, and the role of the internet cannot be denied.
"The bombardment of certain people, vulnerable people, with messages of violence, messages of radicalisation, is having an impact in our society and in all societies across the world," he said.
Mr O'Gorman called on the Government to examine the recommender systems — the algorithms used by social media platforms to push content to certain demographics.
"We know those systems are there and we believe they should be turned off," he said, adding that he will write to Communications Minister Patrick O'Donovan to this effect.
"It is not the absolute solution here but it will stem the flow of a very significant amount of violence, of radicalising imagery to young people, and particularly to people who are vulnerable to the impact of this."
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