Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is very important that Trócaire is before the committee today to remind us of the situation facing Palestinian people because it is an issue that gets pushed further down the list of priorities, in particular given what is happening in Syria, Libya, Yemen, Iraq and so on. I have been to the West Bank twice in the past three years and have certain memories that will always stay with me. One is controlled movement, the appalling way Palestinian people are treated when they try to go to work, to visit people or to avail of education. Another is the small farming village of Einun and how it stood up to the aggression and encroachment. I remember in Hebron watching some newer settlers who, I understand, are much more aggressive than the older Israeli settlers who have been there from the beginning. They walked around the lovely town carrying Kalashnikovs, Uzis or whatever, and that was normality.

I also think about some of the very positive things, such as Al Rowwad and its theme of beautiful resistance, the youth groups, the theatre groups, the music and the composers we met there. Great work was done on heritage in Birzeit. There are many contradictions and how people survive in that situation I do not know. How they survive in Gaza is almost impossible to comprehend. There are two phrases I recall from Mr. Sourani's speech which resonated with me. One is that the situation is making the region a nation of beggars and that the people have the right to be normal. I am interested in his answer to the question put by Deputy Smith.

I have some questions. I refer to people with disabilities. Whatever about able-bodied people trying to cope with living in such a horrible situation, people with disabilities must face increased difficulties. I would be interested to hear what sort of support is available for such people.

A major conference in New York at the weekend discussed sustainable development goals. Does Mr. Sourani see any scope in that for a better outcome? It would make one lose faith or confidence in the UN. I do not know how he feels about that. Humanitarian aid is not a substitute for the denial of dignity or rights. How do people hold on to their dignity in Gaza when they face such deprivation and destruction?

People here know of my support for Cuba. I do not know how many resolutions were passed by the UN, but 97% or 98% of countries agreed that the blockade should stop. It has not stopped and the same situation faces Palestine and Gaza when it comes to UN resolutions. Does Mr. Sourani have confidence that the UN can do anything?