Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman for the promotion or demotion, whichever it might be. I also apologise for arriving late. I was at another function.

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I am familiar with the work that the EAPPI does. Former students of mine and friends have been out with the EAPPI on different programmes. I commend it on its important work and for bearing witness to what is happening in Palestine. It was distressing to hear the witnesses' update and frustrating for all of us. For years, many of us have raised the issue of the illegality of Israeli settlements as well as the immoral and illegal nature of the demolition of properties and infrastructure in Palestine that, as stated, had been built with EU money. The EU and other international donors have to pay for their reconstruction.

I echo what others have said and support the requests made by the witnesses. Through the Acting Chairman, I ask that our committee write to the Tánaiste to express our support for those requests. The Oireachtas has called for recognition of the state of Palestine, so we may press that matter again. It is something that the Tánaiste should do without delay.

I wish to ask a specific question. The witnesses are correct about the relevance of the EU in this, but the EU is not a monolith. Is there any glimmer of hope that there may be some EU institution or mechanism through which we as a committee could press on the issue of compensation? That seems to be an area where a softer approach could be taken than would be the case with some of the other requests and, therefore, could be easier to bring about. What mechanism specifically is the EAPPI calling on to seek compensation? Is it looking to the European Court of Justice or the European Commission? How do we as an Oireachtas committee put pressure on whatever the relevant institution is? The European Parliament has spoken on this matter previously, but on what executive institution can we put pressure?