Mr. ?amonn Meehan:

How does it fit into the wider campaign? As far as I know, the NTMA is probably right in saying that no other country has introduced primary legislation to divest from Israeli enterprises. However, that in itself is no reason or no basis for inaction by Ireland. In fact, it is a greater reason to act now. If we fail to pass this Bill into law, we are talking out of both sides of our mouths. We need to be consistent. On the one hand we claim to want a two-state solution. We claim to believe that settlements are illegal under international law. The Government has advised our citizens and enterprises not to invest because there could be legal consequences. How, having said all that and continuing to say all that, does it drag its feet when it comes to divesting taxpayers' money from those enterprises? It makes absolutely no sense. It is inconsistent and it is time for us to develop the courage of our convictions as clearly stated and divest from those enterprises. As Nelson Mandela once said, it always seems impossible until it is done. It is time to get it done.