Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----than one would otherwise earn if one had the mentality of going along with the herd.

The European Union has not been effective enough in dealing with the situation in Gaza. Transfers of funding from the Union to Gaza, through the United Nations, have been helpful, but there has been an extraordinary lack of investment in and engagement with Gaza regarding fundamental infrastructure. When I was Minister for Foreign Affairs three years ago, I was at meetings at which all sorts of promises were made on water treatment plants, the building of schools and education infrastructure. None of these has been honoured. In essence, the policy has undermined the voices of moderation and has been music to the ears of those with more fundamentalist opinions in Gaza. The European Union is culpable in that regard.

We on this side of the House also condemn the firing of rockets into Israel by Hamas. However, one cannot bomb Gaza without causing civilian deaths and casualties. It is just not possible to carpet-bomb Gaza without killing children and entire families. The death and destruction in Gaza in recent weeks were absolutely unacceptable, notwithstanding the threats to Israel's security. In the longer term the European Union needs to be far more effective in ensuring vital infrastructural work is done in Gaza.

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