Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not doubt the Tánaiste's bona fides and what he said in that we have been stronger than any other country. That is not the measuring stick. We are an independent country, so what is our attitude regarding Israel other than expressing concerns? What is it we are saying to Israel? The Tánaiste has not met with the Israeli Foreign Minister or whoever the appropriate minister is and we are approaching a second deadly year in Palestine. The Tánaiste speaks about six organisations that he supports. They have been designated as terrorist organisations with not substantial evidence. That is what the EU said a year ago, to back that designation and still we sit idly by and do nothing.

We talk about compensation. Can that be clarified? Is that compensation to allow the Palestinian people to rebuild the houses that have been demolished or confiscated? Are we colluding in the knocking down of houses and giving them money? What does compensation mean in that regard? I would like specific answers on the six organisations and Amnesty International's report.

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