Paul Bradford (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and wish him well in his new role. He has been present since the debate commenced at 2 p.m. In the light of the contributions made by Senators Paschal Mooney and Pat O'Neill, the Minister has now at least heard arguments which contain some degree of balance. I thank the Senators involved for illustrating to the House that there are two sides to this tragic story.

Many speakers outlined their deep concerns which I fully share in respect of the slaughter taking place across the Middle East. The Sinn Féin Senators referred to the horrific pictures of dead children on the beach in Gaza. I accept that these pictures were dreadful, but I recall images of dead children on the beach at Mullaghmore who had been blown up by members of Sinn Féin-IRA. I do not recall any condemnation being uttered on that occasion. I support the comments made by the Senators in question with regard to the undesirability of citizens in Israel cheering as a result of bombs exploding in Gaza and other tragic occurrences. However, I remember a mob of citizens on the streets of Belfast cheering when two British soldiers were pulled from their car and murdered. Again, I cannot recall Sinn Féin uttering any words of condemnation on that occasion. I find it difficult to deal with those who have undergone a sudden conversion in the context of using the word "condemnation". I recall that for a period of 25 years, the members of the Sinn Féin Party used a stock phrase to the effect that they did not believe in the politics of condemnation. I am disappointed that my friends from Sinn Féin are no longer present because I wish to state that I find it difficult to listen to lectures from them on morality, be it in respect of domestic or international issues.

In the context of attempts to resolve the tragic situation in the Middle East, I am a firm believer in a two-state solution. In order for such a solution to be arrived at, however, both states must survive. How many of us fervently wish to see the state of Israel survive and thrive? Just before the Lower House adjourned for the summer recess, Deputy Gerry Adams pulled a political stunt by asking those present to stand in support of the citizens of Gaza. If I pulled a similar stunt in this Chamber and asked those colleagues who believe in the right of Israel to exist and survive to stand, I wonder how many would remain in their seats? I am concerned in this regard because I wonder whether we now have a very unbalanced view of the events in the Middle East and why they are occurring.

Obviously, I condemn every single act of violence, as I have always done, whether it is on the streets of Belfast, Beirut or Gaza, and I want to see the violence brought to an end. I want to see a ceasefire and an end to the blockade, but I also want to see an end to the building of tunnels which allow terrorists to use them to murder and pillage Israeli citizens. It is a complex issue and is in no way as simplistic as some people would present it to be. We must ask ourselves the question: Why do so many citizens of Israeli, an educated, cultured modern race of people, support the current offensive action by the Israeli army? We must recognise the fact that the history of the Israeli people and of the Holocaust still bears heavily on that nation. Some of my colleagues, in particular, my friend, Senator David Norris, said that we must move beyond this. I remind our friends that in discussing Irish history, and the current situation politically on this island, we have spoken on many occasions about the Famine of 1840 to 1845 . All of us are in some way bound to our history. The fact that there are citizens of Israel who believe that another holocaust could occur, and who can read in the press dispatches that not only Hamas but certain states want to wipe the country of Israel off the map, is central to their rather aggressive thinking.

I wish the Minister well in his endeavours to assist in peace making. A ceasefire is urgent and desirable and we need not say anything further about this. I appreciate the reason the Minister did not take the particular action last week and I fully support his decision but this debate needs to be balanced and we do not have sufficient robust, balanced debate. A timeslot of five minutes is entirely inadequate to address these subjects.

In regard to Ukraine, I very much support what the Minister said. I have raised this issue in the House in recent months. The activities of the Russian Administration must be a cause of deep concern. Addressing the conflict in Ukraine, which is on the edge of the European Union, is central to peace and prosperity across the continent of Europe. I am deeply disappointed but not surprised by the inactivity of President Obama, whose presidency I now believe to be entirely pointless. I hope the European Union will take the lead because Mr. Obama will not show courage. We must stand up to Vladimir Putin and support the people of Ukraine in their right to exist and in their right to integrate, in so far as they wish, with the European Union. This is a very serious challenge. I welcome the sanctions taken to date and I hope that we will be much more robust in continuing with that level of sanctions against the expansionist policy of the Russian Administration.