Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Sanctions are a slow-moving remedy and I am not sure of the effect they would have within the timescale of this conflict, having regard to the urgency and importance of a ceasefire.

I am surprised at Senators warning or advising that Ireland should not take its lead from the United Kingdom. I have seen nothing in any of this debate, or in the past few weeks or months, to show that Ireland is taking a lead from our nearest neighbour. I am not sure from where this idea entered into the mix.

The contrast or comparison between sanctions against Russia and sanctions against Israel has been stated. Sanctions follow from a common view of what is the best response to a particular crisis, all of which are unique. If partners do not agree on sanctions, as a response, then the sanctions simply do not happen.

In the case of Gaza, we cannot dispute the right of Israel to make some sort of military response to attacks on its territory but we clearly and loudly condemn the nature of its response and that is now being made. Let me contrast Gaza with Ukraine where we are dealing with an attempt to undermine or threaten the very sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of a major European state which is a direct neighbour of several EU members. This involved first, the illegal seizure of the Crimea, then the destabilisation of another large area, attacks on Ukranian forces and officials and, most recently, the downing of a civilian airliner which killed hundreds of EU citizens and many others, including, regrettably, one Irish person, Ms Edel Mahaddy who was originally from Dublin.