Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá go leor dul chun cinn bainte amach do mhuintir na Pailistíne anseo sa Dáil le dhá lá anuas. Tá a fhios agam go raibh an tAire Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála, an Teachta Ó Flannagáin, thar sáile agus táim sásta go bhfuil sé anseo anocht. Táim buíoch do na Teachtaí a ghlac páirt agus go háirithe don Aire Stáit ag an Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála, an Teachta Dara Ó Murchú, mar bhí sé anseo linn i rith na díospóireachta. Tá an díospóireacht seo an-tábhachtach mar seasann muintir na hÉireann go láidir le muintir na Palaistíne.

I welcome the Palestinian ambassador, Ahmad Abdelrazek, and the Moroccan ambassador here this evening. As we come to the end of this debate, I particularly welcome the decision of the Government not to oppose the motion. When we finish this debate, both Houses of the Oireachtas - I recognise an Seanadóir Averil De Paor a rinne páirt maith sa Seanad leis an obair seo - will support the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, recognise a Palestinian state, and endorse the right of the Palestinian people to independence and sovereignty. This is a substantive and positive development which means that we are standing with progressive opinion, including in Israel, which wants a lasting peace arrangement and supports the recognition of a Palestinian state.

In the debate, Ministers and Deputies spoke frequently of standing up for the rights of the oppressed, but always in the context of EU policy. My colleagues and I have consistently argued, however, that this State needs to have its own foreign policy positions based on human rights and international law. This should always be the case. In the course of this debate, others have said that this motion is a symbolic act. Fair enough, but let the Government move beyond symbolism, as the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, has promised. The passing of this motion, in conjunction with similar motions in parliaments across the European Union, is an important act of solidarity with the people of Palestine. It is also an important act of solidarity with the people of Israel.

The dangers and tensions were underlined today with the sad news of the death, during a protest on the occupied West Bank, of Ziad Abu Ein, a cabinet minister in the Palestinian government. Ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón a thabhairt do chlann Abu Ein. I dedicate this Dáil motion to the deceased minister and his family. I also extend our sympathies and solidarity to Ambassador Abdelrazek and ask him to pass these on to President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority. Abu Ein died during a non-violent demonstration to mark international human rights day. He and others were planting olive trees, symbols of peace, on land owned by a Palestinian but which, because of a nearby illegal Israeli settlement, is mostly off limits to Palestinians.

I and others explained during the debate the extent of the control the Israeli Government exerts through its policies and military, as well as suppressing the daily lives of Palestinians. The separation wall, the sterile roads that Palestinians are banned from, the systematic ill-treatment of Palestinians and the denial of peaceful protest are all symptomatic of an Israeli apartheid system that brings shame to that state. It also brings shame to the international community which has failed to defend international law and has failed the people of Palestine and Israel.

This is exactly the right time for this motion. It is also the right time for the Irish Government to stand with Palestinian and Israeli citizens who are taking risks every day for peace. Now is the time for the Government to take up a leadership role in encouraging greater action by the international community to uphold international law. It is the right time to build on this debate and motion. I call on the Government to act with all speed to upgrade the Palestinian mission to an embassy, as well as pushing for greater action by our colleagues in the international community. I commend the Oireachtas for agreeing to this historic recognition of the rights of the people of Palestine. Long live the people of Palestine. Beirigí bua, a Phalaistínigh.

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