Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)

I thank the witnesses. I appreciate them taking the time to join us and the detailed thought that has gone into their opening statements. I am absolutely horrified by the Israeli atrocities being carried out on the Palestinian people. I want Ireland to do everything within its influence to bring about a cessation of these actions without delay. Having read the opening statements, although we may agree on the end goal, we may not find ourselves fully aligned on the necessary immediate actions that Ireland should take.

I wish to ask three or four questions. I will ask a question, get a response and then ask the following question, if that is okay with the panel. Ms Mahony stated that Ireland had "the capacity to significantly diminish Israel’s ability to fundraise" and that we had the ability "to cut off approximately 23% of funds generated globally by Israel Bonds". Does Ms Mahony agree that the reality is that Israel would simply just move to another EU home state almost immediately and that the actual impact of our actions there vis-à-vis Israeli bonds would result in only a minor inconvenience to Israel?