John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Ms Hausdorff. I will just make a few points because they should be on the record. The first is that the events of 7 October were condemned by everybody and are continuously condemned. The Taoiseach condemned them in the House again today. The Irish Government has continuously reiterated its objectives, which include the return of hostages, the cessation of violence and opening up the flow of humanitarian aid. They are separate to the Bill.

There have been some comments made about people's motivations and other people can answer for themselves but, as Chairman, I will say that it is the descent of the Israeli Government and the Israel Defense Forces into the darkest of places that motivates, as far as I can see, all members of this committee from a humanitarian perspective and no other perspective, and very definitely not an antisemitic perspective.

We find that hugely hurtful, offensive and slanderous and we reject it in its entirety. I do not think my colleagues here would thank me if I did not make that point.