Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response and I welcome the announcement of Ireland’s renewed support for the International Criminal Court, but this is a war on children and it requires a firm and clear response from the Government. While we need to continue all forms of constructive engagement to secure the release of Emily Hand and the 40 Irish citizens who are trapped and effectively being held hostage by the Israeli Government in Gaza, we must also continue to call out and condemn the breaches of international law by Netanyahu’s Government.

At the weekend, I was glad to join with other social democratic party leaders at the Party of European Socialists’s annual congress. While there, I made strong representations on the need for a united call from across Europe for an immediate ceasefire. Many of those in attendance emphasised the importance of Ireland’s leadership on this issue, both from the Government and the Opposition, because as a neutral country with a strong record on international peacekeeping missions and with our own history of conflict resolution on this island, we have a responsibility that is not to be taken lightly. It is important that our Government and Ireland show strong leadership in pushing further for Israel to stop its barbaric action in Gaza, put an end to this war on children and the horrific death toll that is rising daily in Gaza, and listen to the calls of aid workers, medics and others for the bullets to stop and a ceasefire to be put in place. I appeal to the Minister to use every lever at the Government’s disposal, including that of diplomatic relations, to ensure that this war on children is ended.

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