Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It was in July. Obviously we had the recess in August. One of the immediate acts I took was around defence procurement, because I saw a publication of The Irish Times to the effect that there was a likelihood - I do not know where that came from within whatever sources were communicating to The Irish Times - that we would be purchasing equipment from the Israeli defence industry in terms of military drones. I gave an instruction immediately to the military leadership and my Secretary General in the Department of Defence that there was to be no such procurement from Israel in terms of any tendering because the ICJ opinion, in my view, meant that it could be constituted as aiding the occupation. That is the first initial act we took in respect of trying to work through the ICJ. I accept that it was taken as a policy decision based on the ICJ. People may very well test that.

I omitted to say to the committee that today was a good day in terms of the fulfilment of this Government's decision - the first Government - to recognise the State of Palestine in that we approved the appointment of the Palestinian ambassador, who is resident in Dublin, today. I think of the late Brian Lenihan Sr., who was the first Minister for Foreign Affairs in Europe at that time to recognise the Palestinian right to a homeland. We have always had a strong tradition of supporting Palestinian self-determination. My party has had a very significant role and-----