Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair. I thank our guests. As Mr. Higazi said, the circle put in place by the report captures where we are today very well. Amnesty International is not the only group to come forward with a report like this. Other reports have come from very different perspectives and from people with very different backgrounds. In terms of this report's place in that group, it is important, as it is as a stand-alone piece of work, and Amnesty International needs to be commended on the time, effort and work it has put into that.

I welcome the replies to the methodologies behind the report. As we have this discussion, there can no longer be a defence of ignorance, lack of understanding or knowledge of the reality of a system of segregation through laws, policies and practices that put so much horror into people's lives on a daily basis. I listened with some interest as Mr. Higazi spoke of oppressive areas. Less oppression is still oppression. It may look like something different in different areas, but it does not dilute the impact that oppression has.

If we are committed to recognising international law, the very basis of that is the recognition of basic human rights that goes along with it. I take what Senator O'Reilly said regarding the amount of talk and detail that has gone into the Council of Europe. While that has a place, there is now a diminished defence of a failure to act and failure of movement that cannot be allowed to continue. We can only speak about issues for a certain length of time. We can only debate issues for a certain length of time before that needs to result in the next step, whatever that may lead to. While we can express and raise concern, that does not improve the lives of the people most impacted by the actions of the neighbouring state.

The witnesses touched briefly on the Control of Economic Activities (Occupied Territories) Bill. I am curious as to the witnesses' feedback on the report that the committee produced last year. I would also like to hear their opinion on the potential UN treaty on business and human rights that is to be published quite soon and the impact it could have and role it could play here. When something is named and called out for what it is, I agree with the witnesses that it brings an additional focus to an issue, regardless of what it may be.

This committee has, as part of its remit, spent a considerable amount of time considering Israel and Palestine, and the various different wrongs that are happening. I cannot say that we have had a report quite like this to date. I again congratulate the witnesses on the work they have done. It is an important piece of work. I ask for their feedback on our committee report and the potential role for the business and human rights treaty.