People Before Profit's Ruth Coppinger has said that she and other TDs have been accused of not telling the truth and that women from the Mothers Against Genocide group who were arrested outside Leinster House three weeks ago "have been made out to be liars" by the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice.
She was referring to allegations made by some women, who alleged that they were strip searched and one was subjected to a cavity search while in garda custody.
Speaking in the Dáil, Ms Coppinger said the Minister for Justice had said at the AGSI conference that there was no wrongdoing, but he never talked to anyone from Mothers Against Genocide.
"The idea that women would leave police stations and all lie that they have been stripped searched or cavity searched ... do you know how humiliating an experience like that would be?" Ms Coppinger said.
"Believe women when they say they have been strip searched. They will make their own complaint. They stand over what they said, but I would like you to call out your minister and the commissioner for not listening to the two sides of the story."
The matter was also raised by her party colleague Paul Murphy, who said they believe what the women told them and the minister should withdraw his "attempt to describe these women as liars and allow them to proceed with their complaint to Fiosrú (Garda Ombudsman Commission)".
Responding, the Taoiseach said the Minister for Justice never used the phrase "liar" against anyone and the gardaí and Garda Commissioner "strenuously denied the allegations" and issued statements to that effect.
Micheál Martin said it is open to anyone to make complaints to Fiosrú, which is an independent body.
Addressing Ms Coppinger, the Taoiseach said there are women in An Garda Síochána and "they have every right to be believed as well.
"There was a strong refutation of the allegations that were made in respect of members of An Garda Síochána, who have no right to defend themselves in this house," he said.
Blockade of Gaza 'a war crime'
Earlier in the Dáil, Mr Martin said the ongoing blockade of Gaza by Israel was "a war crime".
Responding to Deputy Catherine Connolly, he said the blockade which prevents food, medicines and essential supplies from entering Gaza contravenes international humanitarian law and is "horrific" in its implementation.
Ms Connolly said that Ireland has an obligation to prevent genocide and not to be "complicit in genocide".
She said that she challenges "all of us to stand up and stop the genocide that is taking place in our name, because we are complicit... we're doing nothing about planes coming through Shannon to go and punish and murder Palestinians.
"We are doing nothing to progress the Occupied Territories Bill. We are increasing our exports of dual use goods and we are trading with Israel as part of the EU block."
Read more:
Amnesty accuses Israel of 'live-streamed genocide' in Gaza
The Taoiseach then said Ireland is doing "everything in our capacity to have an impact on this situation".
He cited Ireland's support for UNWRA, its recognition of the State of Palestine and its intervention in the South African genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
However, he rejected the claims that Shannon Airport has been used as the Deputy claimed.
"There are no planes leaving Shannon for Gaza," he said.
"You made an assertion there are and there are not."
