Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 18 January 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs

EU-Funded Projects: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel

2:00 pm

Photo of Frank O'RourkeFrank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the witnesses for their presentation and what they have outlined. I congratulate them on the work they have done and the very measured presentation they have given here today without any agenda. They have just told it as it is. Far too often we have different groupings and individuals stating a position or giving a presentation with a particular agenda and sometimes that can negatively affect getting the message through. That is certainly not the case here so I compliment the witnesses.

When one looks through the presentations and sees what has been outlined, one thinks of the saying that a picture paints a thousand words. The witnesses did that very well in their presentation. It is absolutely horrifying to see what is going on. My colleague, Deputy Scanlon, and others will support their proposals in this and do whatever has to be done. We need to increase focus, heighten awareness and continue to profile what is happening to bring attention to the fact that something needs to be done. It is not acceptable. One sees the school for example. We have seen this far too often on different scales and spectrums in different countries where buildings and people's lives are destroyed by this type of action. That is not acceptable or good enough any day in any country for anybody. People are trying to build a life, progress themselves and then all of a sudden everything comes down around them. It is absolutely shocking and horrible stuff. If somebody gave Mr. Alex Dunne a blank sheet of paper and asked him what he feels needs to be done to assist in preventing what is happening at the moment and trying to get some level of normality back to the West Bank, what would he propose?

I echo what Deputy Scanlon said. We completely support Mr. Dunne and we will do everything we can to bring forward a debate in the Dáil Chamber and assist Mr. Dunne in any other way we can. I thank the Chair.