Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In 2006 the European Parliament adopted a resolution that called on the European Union and its member states to work hard to ensure the scope of the protocol to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons would be expanded to prevent the further use of white phosphorous shells and depleted uranium warheads against military and civilian targets. In the previous conflict in the area in 2009 Amnesty International found white phosphorous wedges in residential buildings in Gaza city and both it and doctors came out strongly on some of the weapons used. There were also reports on levels of radioactivity. I am basing my comments on the reports of some medics who suggest the burns they have come across in the latest conflict are not the usual ones seen as a result of the use of conventional weapons. I know the Israelis used a dense, inert metal explosive, DIME, which had a different impact with regard to the burns suffered as a result. Is the Tánaiste saying there is no demand to investigate what happened during the recent conflict and that there is no evidence from the region in that regard? We are getting our information second hand, but if there was evidence of the use of such weapons, would the Tánaiste support the view that these weapons should not be used in built-up areas or at all? There are many depleted uranium shells lying on the ground in some areas and we have received reports from hospitals that they affect children also. The doctors describe a Gulf war syndrome that affects many children. I would be surprised to hear these shells had been lying on the ground since a previous conflict and that they had not been used in the most recent conflict, but it is welcome if that is the case. If the view in the region is that there is a need for an outside investigation, would the Tánaiste support this?

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