Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I want to add my voice to the unanimity of the House in pleading with the Government and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to act. We had great respect all over the world as a neutral and peaceful country. We now seem to be beholden to greater powers in Europe and the United States. We need to send an unequivocal message to the world, and especially Israel, that we will not stand idly by, to use a 1969 phrase from a former Taoiseach. It is probably the wrong phrase to use. I refer to the genocide, the murder and slaughter of innocent children and the demolition of houses. We have talked about homes in Ireland and how hard it is to create a home. Homes are being knocked down by rockets and bombardments in front of our eyes. Families are being wiped out.

There is a genocide and a plantation going on in Gaza. It is happening incrementally. We have the numbers. We have seen the might of Israel. I do not condone Hamas throwing rockets into Israel. It is being provocative. Quite simply, it is like a lion against a mouse. The response is shattering. Israel can flex its muscles. The arms industry and the amount invested in armaments are frightening. It was interesting to listen to Deputy Berry's contribution because he knows the area from his Army experience.

We have to send a message out. I support Deputy Pringle's call to put forward Senator Black's Bill. We regularly hear excuses involving the Attorney General. I have no disrespect for him, but it is one view of a legal situation. Deputy O'Callaghan made a contribution to this debate. One could get another view from another senior counsel as to legality. We need to be independent and to have the best and fairest examination possible of Senator Black's Bill. We need to do something. Standing idly by is not an option for the Government and the Irish people.

I plead with the Government to challenge the President of the European Commission to do more and push for more. We want a ceasefire and we want peace. That is not easily achieved. We could look at our own situation in the North and what we got in the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. It was a remarkable feat involving a number of former taoisigh, Fr. Alec Reid, Dr. Martin Mansergh and many others. Where there is a will there is a way.

The tweets being sent by Israel are teasing the rest of the world. We have to send a clear message that we do not support or condone it. I agree that we must re-examine the Ireland-Israel friendship group. We have no truck for it at the moment. That would be a first step. It would be a píosa beag. It would tell Israel that we do not appreciate its actions. It might not respect us, but a lot of countries around the world had, and continue to have, great respect for us and our diaspora.

We need to act, and we must act now to stop the slaughter. Imagine what it would be like going home tonight to my family, including eight grandchildren, and having three generations wiped out by one rocket launch or bomb. It is so horrific that one cannot conjure up such images and words are not strong enough to condemn it. On behalf of the six Rural Independent Group Deputies, I call on the Government to act in a forthright and very firm manner, condemn this for what it is and call it out.

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