Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

One, the Tánaiste has not answered a single one of my questions. Two, it is just more words that do not even suggest that they will be followed by any kind of actions. It is important to look back to 1984 when Dunnes Stores workers refused to stock the shelves with products from apartheid South Africa. Never let it be said that a small country cannot have an impact. Big or small, it is important that in times like this that, as a country, we stand up and be brave. I have asked the Tánaiste, as a country, about the things we can do without international consensus. We can recognise the State of Palestine. We can enact the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill and the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill. Is the Tánaiste willing to match any of his words with any kind of action that could send a message, big or small, which could actually have an impact in the face of an impending genocide? Children are starving and European countries are arming this massacre. What is the Tánaiste going to actually do? He should spare me the empty words and please tell me what actions he will take.

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