Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am trying to get my head around these matters and the sub-committee. It may be helpful if the Taoiseach could spell out the terms of reference for the European Affairs Committee. He said the issue that I raised was not discussed at this meeting on the EU heads of mission Jerusalem report. He went on to say that the issue of the Middle East would be dealt with on Wednesday, but who gives the guidance to our representatives for that meeting at which these matters will be discussed?

I think both the Taoiseach and I are agreed that the EU has a vital role to play in helping to end conflict, but that needs leadership. The Taoiseach remarked earlier that he hoped the insanity will end. Let me tell him, however, that the insanity will not end - it has to be ended. Therefore, politics has to be made to work and these international fora are a perfect mechanism for asserting the peacemaking imperative, particularly when the EU itself has reports from its own heads of mission, which point the way forward. If these matters were not discussed within our Cabinet sub-committee and if, as far as I can establish, the Government has not raised them, then who gives guidance? As I am trying to get my head round all of this, it would be useful to get the terms of reference for the European Affairs Committee.

I hope I am quoting the Taoiseach properly, but in his response he said that civilians are being put in situaround buildings which are then blown up. Can he clarify that for the House in some way? All the independent agencies as well as the UN, other human rights agencies and NGOs, are not saying that. The Israeli Government is saying it.

The Taoiseach also said that the two-state solution, which I accept, is the solution but the Palestinians do not have a state. Surely, we as a State which has experience of peacemaking can use our good offices to try to expedite, encourage and assist the process of peacemaking and peacekeeping in the Middle East.

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