Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Sometimes the three words we are told are, "Don't go here", where we are told these are the three parameters. Let us go within them. I am explicitly speaking to the powers and responsibilities that, as a competent authority, the Central Bank had and has. I am not looking at what the Central Bank can do now solely. It would useful, in the analysis, to look to and examine the question as to what extent there was a proper examination of the prospectus in 2021 prior to the case where we now have the International Court of Justice being very clear on the risk of genocide and the responsibility of all states to ensure they are not contributing to that risk.

In respect of that, and the International Court of Justice to which the EU subscribes and is bound, Mr. Makhlouf will be aware there have been reports from the human rights authorities within the European Union explicitly pointing to the fact that the European Union should not be contributing to the supply of arms. There are a lot of pieces now but back in 2021, 2019 or whatever the year of issuing the bonds, this was a really important issue because this points to a systemic issue.