Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. In order to be a true arbiter, a person must have the trust of both parties to a dispute and be fair in considering both parties' views. When the arbiter is correctly focused on the bigger picture, he or she never loses sight of the objective of bringing the two parties to a point of agreement and does not entertain partisan interests. The arbiter must remain neutral. It is not fair, for example, to shackle one party while the other is free to attack.

In seeking recognition of a Palestinian state, Palestinians must accept the right of Israel to exist in peace and with security. However, the Hamas leadership which governs Gaza refuses to recognise Israel as a nation or her right to exist. Instead, it is committed to the destruction of Israel and opposes all steps taken to resolve the conflict by agreement. That is the thorn in the side when it comes to peace in the Middle East. While it is right that the Palestinians should have recognition of their own homeland, it is not necessarily the right time to give such recognition. For now, there is still work to be done in urging both sides to denounce violence and work together to achieve peace.

As a neutral state, Ireland should not give one-sided support to one faction in this conflict. Such an approach undermines trust in our ability to be peacemakers. Unfortunately, this motion does more to promote the Sinn Féin cause than it does to advance the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. My preference would have been for a more nuanced response from the Government by way of a counter-motion.

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