Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

In March, the Minister said his Department was studying the Amnesty International report. Has he studied it yet? What conclusions has he drawn from it? Amnesty International indicted Israel for operating a racist and cruel system of apartheid against the Palestinian people, which is a crime against humanity. It stated that Israel deliberately denies Palestinians their basic rights and freedoms and that its blockade on Gaza leaves the area in a state of "perpetual humanitarian crisis", which amounts to a collective punishment of Gaza's civilian population. It states there is chronic, discriminatory underinvestment in Palestinian communities in Israel, denial of the right to return for millions of Palestinian refugees, the forcible transfer and expulsion of Palestinians from Israel and the occupied territories, the widespread and systematic use of administrative detention to imprison thousands, and decades of torture of Palestinian detainees, including children. I could go on. The Minister says there will be no consequences. He will say a few words of condemnation, as will the Minister for Foreign Affairs next week, then he will proceed to pursue investment from Israel through the establishment of an IDA Ireland office. That is utterly shameful.

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