Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)

I commend the Tánaiste on standing by this in America last week. Surely, he must be as disappointed as I am that President Obama has failed to deliver. Sadly, during his three years in power, Mr. Netanyhu has given him the run around and there has been no progress in the Middle East and his international record will not look great. Obviously, he is now much more interested in trying to get re-elected and in cosying up to the Israeli vote rather than making decisions in the best interests of the Palestinian people who are getting a pretty raw deal.

I refer to the decision to give the go ahead for more than 1,000 units in Gilo in East Jerusalem. This was only days after the quartet asked that both sides avoid provocative actions so that the peace talks could get under way soon. What Israel did in the days after the UN meeting was a slap in the face for the quartet. Would the Tánaiste consider speaking to the Israeli ambassador about this issue? We know that as long as the settlements continue, there will be no appetite for peace.

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