Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I thank the Minister for his reply. A total of 56% of the population of Gaza are children. The Minister is aware of that. It was welcome that he visited Gaza and that his visit was followed by the visit of Baroness Ashton and Ban Ki-moon. A number of supplementary questions arise. I do not understand why humanitarian corridors have not been established given the degree of humanitarian urgency that exists, as outlined for example in the Goldstone report. It should be possible to deliver the basics such as food, water, cooking gas, fuel and medical care through safe corridors to the children in Gaza. It should also be possible to implement the short-term demands of the Goldstone report on electricity to enable the provision of clean water, which is not happening.

While I welcome the visit of Ban Ki-moon, it followed an ineffectual presence by his personal representative. I have been in Gaza three times since 2005. The personal representative of the United Nations was the person who was supposed to negotiate about the safe conduct of materials to UNRWA under the leadership of John Ging, which is involved in construction and the provision of housing. Those meetings did not take place and they did not succeed in ending the blockade. I was pleased with the Minister's evolution in thinking given that he appeared to say, although perhaps it is an unfair deduction, that the European Union's non-recognition of the election victory by Hamas was a mistake.

Are we now in a position where people are continually making comparisons between Northern Ireland and the situation in Gaza? What stares one in the face about Northern Ireland is that even when Senator Mitchell was there, a secretariat to the peace process existed. There is no sign of a secretariat to the peace process in the Middle East that would have provided continuity.

I agree with the Minister that the siege of Gaza is collective punishment of innocent people. I urge the General Affairs and External Relations Council to speak equally candidly. Some members of the European Union are not helpful on the Gaza issue. Having been a Minister myself I appreciate that the Minister's efforts are frequently buried between anodyne statements that come from the European Council. Last December's statement was welcome but how near we are to the ending of the siege as it affects the civilian population, in particular the 56% of the population in Gaza who are children?

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