Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I support this amendment, which captures participation by state bodies, such as the IDF, in a different way to our own amendments but in a way that does not contravene them. All of this is necessitated by the fact that EU domestic law excludes armed forces from states, such as Israel, being designated as a terrorist group regardless of what they are involved in. It is deeply troubling that there has been such resistance in moving to this position. I do not understand how we can say on one hand that this new legislation is so necessary when the acts of violence we need to end right now, the sources of all other types of terrorism in many respects come from states being able to act with impunity and disregard for humankind, never mind international humanitarian law. The world has turned a blind eye to a set of terrorist activities that include murdering children while they are in incubators in hospital and starving then, as well as shooting children as they queue for food. If we do not define that as terrorism, I would argue that meaning of terrorism has no meaning whatsoever. It is just a charge that is used against political opponents. That is a dangerous place to go.

I commend Deputy Kelly on his amendment and I want to indicate our full support for it.