Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Gilmore. We congratulated him personally at last week's meeting and we have written to him in that regard as well. We also congratulate our diplomats abroad, particularly in Geneva and in the United Nations, for their work. At every opportunity here when we met diplomats, we highlighted Ireland's candidature for the Human Rights Council.

Before I hand over to Deputy Smith, I have one question on the situation in Gaza. With the major players in the Middle East today, both the US Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton, and the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, in Egypt and Jerusalem, respectively, and news emerging that there will be a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas within hours, what will be the effect of the bus explosion in Tel Aviv on any imminent ceasefire? The Tánaiste might answer that when he is answering questions from Deputy Smith.