Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know the Minister has made public statements calling for them to be reversed, but unfortunately all they have been are public statements. It is obvious to everybody that the Israelis have used the softly-softly approach from the international community to continue with the settlement programme and accelerate it. They know because of the attitude of the international community that by the time they get around to doing something, it will be irreversible. That is the situation we are facing now. It is time for the Government to take a very strong stand and to go further than expressing deep concern and issuing public statements. It needs to institute concrete actions that will affect Israel directly and ensure the programme is revisited.

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