Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think these matters are best left to the appropriate section to deal with in the normal manner. The original motion, parts of which have been disallowed, referred to issues that are not pertinent to the function of any committee. Some of the things that were being suggested are not possible. We do not direct Ministers in this committee because we do not have the power to do so. I suggest that we reiterate what we can do. For that reason, I am proposing an amendment to delete all the words in Senator Daly's motion after "Article 147 of the Convention" and include in their place "and the Joint Committee calls on the Minister to convey Ireland’s concerns to the Israeli authorities". That is the normal procedure to be followed in a situation like this. If we do otherwise at this stage, we will reduce the level of debate. In that context, I would like to make a point about something I have noticed in the House in general. The level of debate and the manner in which we make our case can have a huge bearing on the manner in which what we say is greeted by the intended recipients. If we decide to lower the tone of debate in the Houses or the committees, the subject matter is diminished considerably by virtue of that. I strongly urge us all to recognise that in future when we are making our case to a Minister, an ambassador or whoever it may well be. I accept that there was no intention to offend anybody, but the original motion I saw was certainly offensive and argumentative and was ruled out of order for those reasons.