Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

There is no disagreement between the Government and the Fine Gael Party on this issue. We condemn the actions by Israeli forces against an international humanitarian mission yesterday, 31 May, that resulted in the unnecessary loss of life. The international flotilla of six vessels - two cargo ships, a cruise liner and three yachts - carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid left Cyprus on Sunday and was expected to reach the coast yesterday. The ensuing incident, which occurred in international waters, was a completely disproportionate response to an international humanitarian aid mission.

There are three imperatives, those being, the immediacy of securing the safe return of Irish citizens illegally detained on the high seas, the immediacy of dealing with the Rachel Corrie, which is approaching Gazan waters as we speak, and the requirement for a European response to the blockade by Israel of Gaza.

The Rachel Corrie, which set sail from Dundalk, has five Irish nationals and five Malaysians aboard and is due to reach Gazan waters tomorrow. I note the Minister's comments on speaking with Mr. Denis Halliday, an Irish citizen aboard the ship, and I support the Minister's call to allow the Rachel Corrie to reach Gaza so that its cargo can provide for the humanitarian and medical requirements of the Gazan people.

Yesterday, I wrote to my colleagues in the European People's Party who are in government and sought their support for the call for an immediate international independent inquiry into yesterday's events and the actions taken. Deputy Timmins, our spokesman on foreign affairs, immediately requested that an emergency meeting of the foreign affairs committee take place to discuss this matter and that the Israeli ambassador and the Palestinian representative to Ireland should attend. I understand the meeting will be held on Thursday, 4 June.

Fine Gael supports the side of humanity and legality. We want an immediate end to the Israeli blockade of Gaza, the construction of the wall on the West Bank and the extension of settlements, an end to Hamas's rocket attacks and a facilitation of humanitarian assistance through border crossings. We want both sides to comply with UN Resolution 1860.

Our policy on the Israel-Palestine conflict is based on four clear pillars, which I have outlined in the House umpteen times. They are a two-state solution, a return to the 1967 borders unless amended by agreement between the parties, an agreed solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees who fled or left their homes in 1948 and 1967 and Israel to cease settlement activities and dismantle all outposts erected since March 2001. To achieve this, all Palestinians must cease all acts of violence and commit to peace. Fine Gael recognises Israel's right to protect its citizens from attack, but in doing so it should act within international law. I deplore the killing by the Israeli defence forces of innocent men, women and children. I deplore the rocket attacks by Hamas. From this remove, it would appear that both sides have broken the Geneva Convention and international law.

UNWRA does a magnificent job in Gaza and those involved in many agencies put their lives on the line defending the victims of conflict. Last year, Deputies Timmins, Breen and Shatter and I visited Gaza, the West Bank and Israel where I saw at first hand the situation on the ground. There is no difference between the opinion of Fine Gael and that of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. We support the Government's motion. The House speaks for the Irish people. This is a matter of singular international political import. Our citizens, wishing to provide humanitarian aid, found themselves at the centre of an incident involving deaths on international waters because the Israeli defence forces attacked a ship. It was unnecessary and over the top. The deaths in the resultant international incident are of the most serious political import. I hope the resolution of the House will be taken seriously by the Israeli Government and that it will be communicated in strong and clear terms by the Taoiseach and the Minister.

Of immediate concern is the safety of our citizens and their return home. A second issue is that of the Rachel Corrie. The third issue with which we must deal is that of a European response, as is our entitlement under the Lisbon treaty, to a co-ordinated and comprehensive decision on the illegal blockade of Gaza by the Government of Israel.

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