Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I agree it needs to be condemned on both sides. We have been clear about that but the Taoiseach saying that her statements lack balance in itself lacks balance. It is more than lacking balance to go over and stand with the Israeli President and say that Israel has the EU's support. A genocide is occurring on our watch and the international community is standing by and letting it happen. The Taoiseach just says he hopes to build on a position at the Council meeting; that will not go far enough. I want him to please not underestimate the importance of his voice at today's European Council meeting. Ireland is one of very few states willing to call out Israel's war crimes for what they are. We have a responsibility to the people of Palestine to do all we possibly can in the upcoming hours and days to push for a ceasefire and the opening of aid corridors. The Taoiseach mentioned that, but the tripling of EU aid to Palestine is pointless unless these corridors are opened before it is too late.

We need to make it unequivocally clear that Ursula von der Leyen does not speak for Ireland, and has no right to offer our support and the support of the other 26 member states to Israel as it rains down bombs on innocent civilians. The UN is calling this an ethnic cleansing but the EU is failing to even condemn it. EU officials are still failing to offer any kind of criticism. How long more will the EU stay silent at the expense of these people? Will the Taoiseach please use his voice today to represent Ireland on this?

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