Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the Taoiseach's confirmation of the fact that aid will continue to the Palestinian people and his insistence, quite correctly, that the rule of law be applied equally, without fear or favour, that the Israeli state is not exempt from the rules that apply to all others, and that the Palestinian people have rights that are inalienable and that must be vindicated, not just now in a time of acute conflict but always. Here is the problem: for far too long, day in and day out, week in and week out, month in and month out and year and year out, the Palestinian experience has been one of desertion by the international community. Now has to be a moment where we see a step-change, where we see clarity of purpose and leadership and where it is made clear to everybody, including Mr. Netanyahu and his Administration, including all concerned in the Israeli state, that they cannot play fast and loose as a rogue state in violating again and again the most basic rights of the Palestinian people. Will the Taoiseach confirm for us that will be the baseline position of the Irish Government and State?

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