Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Is the Taoiseach satisfied with the number of meetings of this committee that have taken place? Is he confident there have been enough to enable the Government to have a proper focus? He has said that part of its remit is to set priority issues for Ireland. Clearly our relationship with Europe is vital for the State. There are other issues that should be priority issues which are not entirely domestic or even internal EU issues. I am thinking here of conflict-resolution necessities. For example, when the EU heads of mission Jerusalem report was published recently, I asked for the Government, which then held the EU Presidency, to give leadership on this vital matter of international concern and to act urgently on the information and recommendations made by EU officials.

This heads of mission report on Jerusalem indicted the Israeli Government of violating international humanitarian law but, sadly, nothing was done. I was unable to establish whether this was discussed at any pertinent meeting or forum within the leadership of the European Union and, this year, Members can see a repeat of all the sad and tragic events of 2012 and 2009. Does the issue of conflict resolution constitute a priority for this State? Members should revisit for a moment or two the fact that within a short period almost 200 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli assault. Human rights groups have stated that 75% of the dead have been non-combatants and the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has stated that more than one quarter of them have been children. Moreover, 70,000 people have fled their homes, particularly in northern Gaza. While there is now a possibility of a sos on foot of the proposition being forward by Egypt, this could just become another lull, as has been seen in the past. Surely the Irish Government and the aforementioned committee could focus on these matters and ensure that all efforts are made to assist and encourage peacemaking in the Middle East, to uphold the rights of the people of the Palestinian territories and to use our good offices within the European Union to ensure this is not just another temporary lull before violence resumes once again.

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