Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Deputy Boyd Barrett was not in the House when I answered the serious questions raised about the Government's response to the Palestinian issue, the occupation that is taking place in Palestine, the blockade of Gaza and the efforts we are making to bring about a resolution to that. It is claptrap to talk about collusion by the Irish State with Israel. The Government is working constructively to find a solution to a long-standing problem. I hope, as part of that, we will be able to support recognition of a Palestinian state.

It is typical of Deputy Boyd Barrett to be more interested in the protest than in the Palestinians.

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