Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for that answer and welcome the sentiments in it. He said he would be in favour of a ban but said it is unlikely the European majority would row in behind that. I agree with the Tánaiste on that given there would be many large states in Europe that are not as neutral as Ireland. We have always prided ourselves on our neutrality and I wonder if the Tánaiste has considered the idea of expressing our sovereignty by going alone on this. The Tánaiste said he did not think it would be necessarily a great idea but it would emphasise our neutrality in the strongest manner.

It was interesting to see the Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem concluding that most of the 167 Palestinians killed last November when Israel was bombing Gaza were civilians and that Israeli forces acted contrary to the laws of war. The reported missile attacks on Syria are also contrary to the laws of war and I wonder if the Tánaiste has expressed his disapproval of Israeli encroachments on Syria and if he has discussed this matter with the Israeli Ambassador.

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