Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)

I accept the Minister's point about the Palestinian campaign for recognition. Throughout the decades, Irish Governments have played a constructive role there. However, I am stunned to learn that it is the position of the State that the investigation has concluded and that no sabotage to the MV Saoirse took place. I do not accept that.

Like Deputy Boyd Barrett, I have seen the evidence of sabotage. A man I know to be of the highest integrity, a fisherman called Pat Fitzgerald from Waterford, has clearly outlined that the damage to the propeller shaft would have to have been man-made. Almost identical damage was done to a sister-ship in the flotilla. The Minister has asked for evidence. He should meet the campaign group, Irish Ship to Gaza. I am sure they would arrange a delegation of some of the flotilla participants to produce the evidence to the Minister and explain why it had to have been man-made.

I am shocked that a spokesperson for the Turkish authorities, after a cursory examination, could make a pronouncement that sabotage did not take place.

There is a state that held the Palestinian people under military occupation for all of these years. It was responsible for the slaughter of 1,500 people in Gaza. It has caused a massive humanitarian crisis which every human rights organisation in the world has condemned. It murdered nine peace activists on a flotilla last year. Is the Minister seriously suggesting that state is not capable of sabotage of two boats to prevent the completion of a mission that would have been deeply embarrassing to that state?

I implore the Minister to meet a delegation and look at the evidence himself. I trust his integrity. I ask him to look at the evidence and make up his own mind.

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