Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Directly following on from Deputy Paul Murphy's question, I do not believe we can be seen as a strong voice when these settlement expansions are happening on an ongoing basis. I listened to the Minister's earlier answers on the same issue in which he said he does not want to make a symbolic gesture or take one measure or another. We are in effect taking no measures to stop what is clearly an illegal and unjust act. Where is our voice? We could have a voice if we made a strong stand and said we will not trade with Israel, which is what I am asking the Minister to consider with this question. However, the wider question is what we can do. If we are not going to take any options that are set out, how can the Minister say we have a strong voice when the illegal settlement patterns continue - accelerate, in fact? This has happened for decades and nothing seems to be stopping it. How can it be stopped if the Minister does not take the kinds of actions I have asked for in our question?

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