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

I thank the Taoiseach for his response. I tabled four or five questions out of the 15 to which he responded.

Regarding the Taoiseach's bilateral meetings with his Saudi Arabian counterparts, he stated that he had congratulated Saudi Arabia on its election to the UN Human Rights Council. However, he mentioned that there had been no discussion of women's rights. Why did he not discuss them, given the fact that one expects the treatment of women across the globe to be a core issue for the UN Human Rights Council in its work? There are fundamental issues pertaining to women's rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Taoiseach stated that he held a meeting with the Qatari Prime Minister at which he offered support for Qatar's efforts in hosting the football World Cup. I suggest that we review that support quickly. I do not know whether the Taoiseach listened to Des Cahill of RTE yesterday and today, but it has been estimated that 1,200 people have lost their lives in the construction works. These were migrant workers with no rights and in appalling conditions. Serious allegations about bribery to procure the football World Cup for Qatar have also been made.

One never likes to mingle sport and politics or regimes, but there comes a point when ethics and ethical behaviour, in this case the treatment of migrant workers, must be given priority over other considerations. As a country, we must adopt some moral stance on this issue, which transcends any other issue. I might stand corrected, but yesterday's report estimated that 5,000 or 6,000 people could die during the construction stage of the stadia for the football World Cup. Are we living on an alternative planet or something, that the world would just watch this happen or that we go on trade missions, wish Qatar well and offer some solutions to its problems in hosting the football World Cup while quietly ignoring the reality of what is happening on the ground to our many fellow human beings who are involved? This is an urgent issue. Should there be a football World Cup, given everything we have heard so far about Qatar?

This matter goes to the heart of government. Our Government represents the State and society. People will be appalled by what has emerged about the hosting of the football World Cup in Qatar, for example, the trampling and undermining of human rights and workers' rights to the point of people dying. Intervention is required, as are discussions with the sporting bodies, not just in this country, but across the world, about whether the football World Cup should go ahead. Will the Taoiseach address my question and detail the Government's up-to-date position on the hosting of the football World Cup? I take it that our Government will withdraw its support for the Qatari Government as regards construction projects and other activities that undermine workers' rights in such an appalling and blatant manner.

The third issue I wish to raise is that of Palestine and the continued denial of statehood for the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. I visited Gaza some years ago as Minister for Foreign Affairs when I witnessed the appalling conditions in which people were living. They were under permanent siege. It is the largest prisoner of war camp in the world. This is unacceptable. We still read about announcements concerning new West Bank settlements by the Israeli Government even though talks are meant to be under way. We are not clear on whether there is proper and proactive engagement in those talks. Will the Taoiseach agree to raise this matter at the next European Council meeting and call for a renewed European initiative to promote real negotiations and to provide additional development funding for the West Bank and Gaza?

I asked about the Syrian conflict and the Taoiseach's discussions with Saudi Arabia and others. Last year, external pressure resulted in the regime's use of barbaric chemical weapons coming to an end. It has been estimated that 3.5 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance. The UN states that violence has escalated again in the past four weeks.

Worryingly, there are reports of dramatic increases in sexual violence. Valerie Amos, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, says the regime is preventing UN aid from reaching over 90% of those who are in need. It is important that voices are raised again at international level. A stronger response is required to the regime's activities. This is the worst humanitarian crisis to emerge from any conflict in living memory. Over 100,000 people have died so far and 3.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.

I commend the 100 Irish soldiers who have just returned from six months duty in the Golan Heights on their work. The Taoiseach will confirm that Ireland remains ready to help the United Nations in continuing to provide vital supports to help the refugees and those who have been hunted out of their homes and to provide vital aid to the victims of this conflict, particularly the victims of the regime.

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