John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will be aware the International Criminal Court is investigating Israel for war crimes. It is interesting the Minister cannot say that what is happening on the ground - the forced displacement of Palestinian people from the occupied territories – is a war crime. It is a fact; it is not me making it up. That is a fact the Minister cannot dispute. It is worrying he cannot simply state that.

Ending the culture of near total impunity for Israel is allowing it to perpetrate these war crimes and the apartheid system it operates. Words are not forcing Israel to stop and adhere to international law. We need definitive action. The Minister, and we as a country, can lead given our position on the UN Security Council. Ireland and the EU were quick to impose sanctions against Russia for its actions in Crimea. I cannot understand why, after so many decades, we still sit idly by and allow Israel to act with impunity. Why can we not take specific actions in terms of sanctions and calling it what it is, namely, annexation? Words will only go so far. We need action and the Minister needs to step up to the mark and take that action.

See this speech in context