Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

Given the number of questions involved I am grateful for the Minister of State's comprehensive reply. I take the opportunity to formally convey on behalf of all Members, especially those of us who have frequently visited Israel, Gaza and the occupied territories, our best wishes to John Ging in his new role in the United Nations. He has been one of the most distinguished people representing Ireland abroad under great pressure.

The reason I referred specifically to children in the first question is based on a report given to me to the effect that Palestinian children are more traumatised by the humiliation of their parents than by the death of a parent. The case upon which the Minister of State has, rightfully, based his reply, for which I am glad, involves the defence of Children International, which is represented in 40 countries and has a record of 30 years in Palestine. Let us consider it in terms of the rule of law. There are some 500,000 settlers in 200 settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. The circumstances in east Jerusalem have changed since the position described by the Minister of State. There have been 84 house demolitions and 24 evictions which have dislodged 407 children. Other houses have been given demolition orders and in Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah some 1,500 children are at risk of displacement. Would the Minister of State agree that it is time to call on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to address the issue of the impact on children of settler activity, in terms of the deaths that have already taken place, the risk to life and the displacement and disruption of family life?

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