John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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Senator Black is absolutely right about that. That again highlights the inconsistencies in the Government's approach. When the Attorney General speaks, he speaks to outline the Government's position and policy. Again, it exposes the double standards there. Providing assistance to the settlements and their viability is contrary to international law. Let us consider the portfolio of investments, in which the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund has invested taxpayers' money, for example the four banks. Banks are a critical piece of the puzzle, not just in financing the expansion of the settlements but in making them economically viable into the future. This comes down to small details such as providing ATMs in the illegal settlements to ensure that the illegal settlers can continue to live illegally on occupied territories as well as providing the finances, providing loans to ensure that construction can be carried out.

Motorola is another business in which Irish taxpayers' money has been invested. Motorola is critical for the security of these settlements. This involves everything from surveillance equipment, CCTV, the illegal checkpoints to stop Palestinians travelling from their fragmented communities, which Israel has generated, and even right down to the current situation on the ground in Gaza where Motorola components are critical.

This involves everything from surveillance equipment, CCTV, the illegal checkpoints to stop Palestinians travelling from their fragmented communities, which Israel has generated, and even right down to the current situation on the ground in Gaza where Motorola components are critical not only in facilitating the operational procedures for the Israeli military on the ground in co-ordinating its military onslaught and genocide of the Palestinians, but also facilitating the guided munitions that are destroying and obliterating entire residential areas, multistorey residential units, schools, universities and UN compounds. Absolutely nothing is sacred. All of this is done with equipment and technology provided by Motorola, which the Irish taxpayer is a shareholder in. The more successful Motorola is in its enterprise, the more successful the banks are in their operations and, shamefully, we are benefiting from it financially. That is the whole rationale as to why the Irish State has invested in this. Therefore, it is in the Irish Government's interest to see these enterprises succeed because that is why it invested in them, which is absolutely scandalous. There are other companies too, for example, Airbnb, which has residences on Palestinian land from which Palestinians have been displaced with no right to return to their homes and villages. These properties are being let out to international tourists as well as Israeli tourists, who can travel freely and reside in Palestinian houses and properties that have been stolen. Yet, Palestinians themselves have no right to go there. Irish taxpayers' money is invested in Airbnb and there are other companies and business enterprises in question too, which cuts to the chase.

When the Attorney General speaks, he speaks with authority, but he also exposes the double standards we have already spoken to about Irish political policy being in stark contrast to the financial policies of the State through the NTMA and its shareholdings.