Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I highlight a situation that has been developing further over the past week in our universities. I am a National University of Ireland Senator. I rarely speak about the universities exclusively but, right now, they are at the centre of some of the debate and activism we are seeing from the public demanding action in respect of Gaza and in terms of international human rights and international humanitarian law. For context, the last of Gaza's 12 universities was demolished by Israel in January. There are now no universities in Gaza because they have all been demolished and, in some cases, the museums which were attached to them have also been demolished. They were not accidentally hit, but demolished.

In more than 34 universities across the United States, we have seen solidarity encampments set up, mirroring the anti-Vietnam war protests in 1968. As at that time, and you would think the world would have learned something since, we have seen violent responses, heavy pressure and arbitrary discipline from university management and police. That is heavily armed forces being deployed against peaceful protest.

Indeed, in Ireland, we have not seen leadership from our universities.With the exception of University College Galway, they have not even called for a ceasefire. There are students and staff who have taken action. The very fact that they are studying in the social sciences or in medicine, or in any of the areas affected, namely every area of a normal civilian society, means they can see how those areas are being affected by the actions of Israel. They have been taking action and they have also been facing pressure. I want to acknowledge the UCD students' union president, who was injured while protesting at an event last week featuring former US Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

I think it is really important that our universities make a stand and make themselves clear now. They are a part of the public space that we share and they have a responsibility for leadership. That is about being neutral, standing up for principles and not necessarily just looking to where the money is. I would like the Leader to organise a debate in respect of Horizon funding post 2020. We know there are attempts right now to redirect the funding to military purposes and we also know there are attempts to say that Israel should no longer be receiving our public money for research, particularly for military research as is now proposed.