Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am absolutely delighted to speak to this important Bill. It is so incredibly rare here to express pride in something we are doing as a Parliament. Like everyone else, I compliment Senator Black and salute Fianna Fáil for introducing the Bill to this House. Obviously, the Government is the odd one out. Since its arguments against the legality of the Bill are so utterly and transparently nonsense, I am not even going to waste any time on them; suffice it to say it feels as if the only time anything positive is achieved here, it happens against the will of the permanent government. That sends a signal to me. Is it not a mark of how bleak things have become that we are proud of ourselves for taking steps to end trade with illegal entities and illegal settlements that are the result of war crimes committed against the Palestinian people? It is a mark of the nauseating hypocrisy of the European Union that we are doing this alone and that no move has been made by the Union as a bloc to end trade with the settlements, even as EU sanctions are imposed on other countries.

On Israel, there is absolutely nothing. It is worse than nothing. Israel is one of the partners in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, a key initiative that implies we have a privileged relationship with Israel because of our common values. Let us be clear: Israel is a violent, criminal, racist, apartheid state that is engaged in a slow but relentless genocide of Palestinians. It is wonderful that this parliament is standing up on behalf of the Palestinian people. The Bill is not a panacea, but it does send a signal. It is incredible and I am delighted that it is is before the House.

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