Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Ireland is very much to the fore in keeping an international focus on Gaza, despite the evidence of other issues in the region. There has been some easing of the blockade in recent years but it has amounted to far too little to allow the Gaza Strip to resume normal life. Economic activity is moribund and the population is dependent on humanitarian assistance and smuggling, which in some cases is controlled by militant groups. People's quality of life has deteriorated and we continue to stress the need to lift the blockade.

The matter has been compounded by developments in Egypt, which is bound by agreements with Israel under which Sinai was returned. It has security concerns of its own. The opening of the Rafah border has been an important safety valve for Gaza and I encourage Egypt to allow as much movement through it as possible. It can never be the real solution to Gaza, as Rafah is a single checkpoint in a remote location.

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