Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know the Tánaiste is on record repeatedly expressing his concerns and outrage about what is happening. However, the absence of action is really worrying. He talks about a rules-based order in other contexts. He said here today that he feels the two-state solution is receding, which is really serious. Yet we have taken no action other than expressing our outrage. I welcome that the Tánaiste will be making a visit and I welcome that Mr. Eamon Gilmore is now jumping into action, further to the EU.

However, we are now facing the bloodiest year. Last year was the bloodiest and it is increasing. We have taken no action. Six organisations remain designated as terrorist organisations. We fund two or three of those. Amnesty International's report on Israel's apartheid against Palestinians has been utterly ignored by this Government and by Europe, except for the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr. Josep Borrell, saying he would not like to use the word "apartheid" and that it is not appropriate.

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