Ivana Bacik urges Taoiseach to meet Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips
Ivana Bacik renewed her request that the Taoiseach meet Lisa Phillips, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, to discuss concerns about Epstein's visits to Ireland and possible criminality. Bacik called for clarity and for ministers to consider meeting the survivor while any allegations are referred to the Gardaí.
Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach and Minister O'Callaghan to consider meeting Lisa Phillips on her next visit to Ireland so she can outline concerns about the nature of Epstein's visits and whether criminal behaviour may have taken place here.
Bacik referenced a continuing drip-feed of files and allegations arising from Epstein's international network, which have implicated public figures and suggested Epstein visited Ireland on multiple occasions. The question raised was whether those visits might involve offences that require investigation.
The Taoiseach said he would consider meeting Lisa Phillips and emphasised that any information suggesting criminal activity should be referred to the Gardaí. He noted scheduling difficulties with a late request in Washington but offered no firm commitment to a date.
The exchange highlights pressure for clarity and accountability: a meeting with survivors, a formal referral of any evidence to policing authorities, and public answers about Epstein's connections to Ireland and implicated public figures.
What was asked
Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach and Minister O'Callaghan to consider meeting Lisa Phillips on her next visit to Ireland so she can outline concerns about the nature of Epstein's visits and whether criminal behaviour may have taken place here.
New evidence and implications
Bacik referenced a continuing drip-feed of files and allegations arising from Epstein's international network, which have implicated public figures and suggested Epstein visited Ireland on multiple occasions. The question raised was whether those visits might involve offences that require investigation.
Government response
The Taoiseach said he would consider meeting Lisa Phillips and emphasised that any information suggesting criminal activity should be referred to the Gardaí. He noted scheduling difficulties with a late request in Washington but offered no firm commitment to a date.
Potential next steps
The exchange highlights pressure for clarity and accountability: a meeting with survivors, a formal referral of any evidence to policing authorities, and public answers about Epstein's connections to Ireland and implicated public figures.
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Transcript
Taoiseach, I want to renew a request that I have previously made to you that relates to the campaign by the courageous survivor of the sex abuse by Jeffrey Epstein, Lisa Phillips. She and other survivors are engaged in a quest for truth and justice. Since the initial batch of files relating to Epstein's depraved international paedophile network was released, we've seen a further drip-feed of allegations about his connections, which have implicated many people in public life, including former European commissioners. Troublingly, the files also suggest that Epstein certainly visited Ireland on quite a number of occasions, but that opens the question as to whether he may have committed crimes here in Ireland. And I wrote to you again earlier this week, at Lisa Phillips' request, to forward you a request she has made for a meeting with you to outline her concerns about the nature of visits Epstein had to Ireland and about whether any criminal behaviour may have been engaged in here by Epstein. And I would ask you again Taoiseach, that you and indeed Minister O'Callaghan might consider meeting Lisa Phillips on her next visit to Ireland. Taoiseach, to respond. Certainly, I will consider meeting Lisa Phillips, but again, I think any information that Lisa Phillips has in respect of those visits, and if they involve criminal activity, should be referred to the Gardaí. And I don't know whether that has occurred or not, and I've no issue meeting with Lisa Phillips. I know that a very late request in Washington wasn't possible to schedule.