Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank both witnesses for the comprehensive presentations. I will be brief. I ask Ms Moran what is the official position of Ireland and whether we now regard what is going on as being de facto annexation. Deputy Brady has already touched on that but I would like to know our official position.

I know what I will ask might irk some but with regard to Irish Aid, we are pumping money into Palestine, and rightly so. The work being done is genuine and attempts to deliver what has been described by Mr. McLaughlin, including education. We all have an interest in human rights. I am concerned about money given particularly for buildings in disputed areas. Some people call them occupied areas and others call them disputed areas. It does not matter what we call them but we know that if a building is put up there, it will be knocked down. Are any caveats attached to funds that are put in by Irish Aid for the construction of buildings?

Some of my colleagues are irked by me making that statement but at the end of the day my concern is that money spent to aid the Palestinian people should have a long-term effect. For the life of me I cannot understand why we would fund something that may be bulldozed a couple of weeks after it is completed, which disrupts everybody. I do not want to get into the argument of whether the land is annexed land or occupied territory. I want to get into the discussion of demolitions and what we can do about them.