Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ireland cannot impose a trade embargo on Israel on a unilateral basis. Trade is a competence of the EU and the European Commission. I believe the Deputy is asking me to do something I cannot do, although I stand to be corrected on that. What I am focusing on are issues where I can have an involvement, such as advocating for products that can alleviate suffering in Gaza, advocating for increased funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, because some have decided to reduce funding to it. UNRWA supports millions of Palestinians, not just in Gaza but in the West Bank, Jordan and Lebanon as well. We will put a lot of Irish taxpayers' money into Gaza in terms of energy projects and we have been advocating for quite some time to find a way, through negotiation, to remove the blockade by sea of Gaza. That is something that has received some media coverage in the last 24 hours and it aligns with the thinking we have been advocating for a long time. The point I am making is that I do not disagree with the frustration and concern that is being expressed in this House regarding innocent people who have been shot and killed in recent weeks. What I am interested in, however, is finding political solutions that can reduce that bloodshed in the future and can provide some hope to Palestinians as opposed to simply looking at protest as a forum of trying to bring about change.

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