Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the question from Deputy Haughey, as to whether there is a collective view from the Arab countries that I engage with, I do not think it would be correct to say there is a collective view. There are different emphases from Egypt to Jordan to Qatar, for example. I think there is a majority view that there should be a permanent ceasefire; that there should be no expulsions of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank into Egypt and Jordan and they would not facilitate that; that there should not be a second Nakba, and we strongly agree with their position on that; that there should not be a future for Hamas in having any control of Gaza; that there should be no reoccupation of Gaza or territorial diminution of Gaza; and that Gaza would have to be handed back to some form of Palestinian control or a Palestinian authority when this current terrible phase of the conflict ends. I have to say Ireland would broadly be of the same view as those Arab countries and we offered to support those countries in any practical way we could. That is exactly what we are doing. What we are not going to get involved in are gesture politics, doing things that are ineffectual and that do not actually help the Palestinians, but just make us feel or look good. That is not a serious approach and does not merit anything, in my view.

Deputy Ó Murchú asked about what we are doing on a European level. There is no consensus at European level on this matter. We have been able to agree certain resolutions and certain language but the language is not precise enough, in my view. We do not have QMV votes on foreign policy, so this must be done on a unanimous basis, which makes it very hard - next to impossible - to have a common European position on this matter. We are one of about eight countries that are most sympathetic to the Palestinian people's rightful demand for justice and human rights and statehood, and we are co-ordinating with those countries as to what we can do that would actually be effective and can actually make a difference.

On the issue of the genocide convention, I sought advice on it. The advice I have is that it is the injured party that should initiate proceedings under the genocide convention. That makes a lot of sense to me. The Members opposite might not like that-----

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