Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A cheann chomhairle, fáiltím roimh an deis caint ar an ábhar iontach tábhachtach seo. Tá an-áthas orm go bhfuil an Rialtas tar eis glacadh leis an rún.

I welcome the Government's support for the motion. I also welcome last night's contribution by the Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, Deputy Dara Murphy, when he said: "It has been the objective of this Government since it took office to work to bring about the achievement... of a fully sovereign state of Palestine." However, such a supportive attitude towards Palestine was not apparent this summer when Ireland froze in the international spotlight. I and countless other Irish people were ashamed to hear that the Government decided to abstain on a UN Human Rights Council vote condemning war crimes during Israel's assault on Gaza during the summer months.

I recognise that there are two sides to this conflict so what are they? On one side is an immensely stronger occupier and coloniser that has meted out what amounts to collective punishment on the people of Palestine. On the other side are the oppressed and colonised, struggling for their freedom, human rights and dignity. Sadly, this motion aside, the Government has clearly divested itself of any remnant of independent thought by entering into what appears to be a slavish pact that does nothing to challenge Israel. The Irish people have a long history of supporting the Palestinian struggle to survive and have formed deep bonds with their people. We must again be to the fore. Thousands of Irish people protested over the onslaught against the population of Gaza all over this island during the months of July and August this year and they demanded action. The motion calls on the Government to join the international movement to universally recognise the state of Palestine and to improve the chance of a real and lasting peace.

Recent months have seen a change at an EU level. We have seen Sweden recognise Palestine, the first EU member state to do so as a member. The Government has tried previously to convince us that it is more prudent to push issues surrounding Palestine through the EU route. However, as we have seen time and again, this dilutes the message and panders to the Israeli Government, which has often acted as if it is above the laws that apply to every other state. We should work with our EU partners on international issues, but we should never fear or negate our responsibility to act as an independent State with our own independent foreign policy that has human rights at its core.

We also have the great wrong of the continued building of illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem with more than 500,000 illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories. This must stop. The walls must also be broken down, metaphorically and physically. That a wall, much higher than even the Berlin Wall, remains in the West Bank should serve as a stark reminder that, even though Palestine might not be covered on the main news bulletins at the moment, segregation and discrimination continue unfettered.

I am sure that Ireland recognising the Palestinian state will help to move peace talks forward. I note that the Seanad motion on 22 October was unanimously accepted. It called "on the Government to formally recognise the State of Palestine and do everything it can at the international level to help secure a viable two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict". This House must follow suit and add Ireland to the list of countries that are progressive and supportive of those who are currently being discriminated against and denied their fundamental human rights, yet keep their eyes firmly on peace.

In my role as health spokesperson, I must look to the urgent work that is needed to help rehabilitate the health system in Gaza following the summer onslaught. The conflict saw the damage or destruction of over half of the hospitals and health centres that existed. Of course, these were poorly equipped to begin with due to the unjust blockade imposed on Gaza. Far from ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, this blockade condemns countless innocents to abject poverty and highly curtailed rights, and is likely to fuel a backlash. The blockade must be lifted. It is a great shame that we must again call for such basic rights to be respected.

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The conflict also saw 11,000 people injured, which put great pressure on their ailing services which often are unable to provide essential medicines such as painkillers or even latex gloves. Even basics such as water and fuel were in short supply.

That the president of my party, Deputy Gerry Adams, was unable to enter Gaza last week shows how Israel thinks it alone is allowed to dictate the present and future of the Palestinian people. This motion is in many ways a first step, a step to ensuring that the Palestinian people get to decide their own future.

I thank all those who have contacted me regarding this motion, and many have done so. I wholeheartedly support it and ask the Government to ensure it is acted upon with urgency.

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