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

It is easy to feel completely hopeless and helpless watching the disaster unfold in Gaza. Today, there was a small glimpse of light. Up to 30 Irish citizens who had been trapped in a hell on earth for more than five weeks are finally getting out. I really hope they and every Irish citizen can escape the carnage. For the more than 2 million people who remain in Gaza, the nightmare continues. The horror is unimaginable. Yesterday, the Taoiseach's colleague the Minister, Deputy Harris, described it as a war on children. Strong words, but where is the action? How can the Government know that, say that and do nothing?

Europe is Israel's biggest trading partner. Trade is governed by the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which has an essential elements human rights clause. Israel's savage onslaught in Gaza does not just breach that clause; it makes a mockery of it. When I raised this with the Taoiseach last week, he suggested that the prospect of economic sanctions was somehow fanciful, but the text of the human rights clause in that deal is clear and unambiguous. It is not a matter of subjective opinion. It is a matter of legal obligation.

The Social Democrats are not the only ones making this argument. Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews and 30 other MEPs have written to Ursula von der Leyen seeking a review of the EU-Israel trade deal on similar grounds. Belgium's deputy Prime Minister, Petra De Sutter, has also called for the deal to be suspended. What we are asking the Taoiseach to do, therefore, is not outlandish or impossible. It is entirely reasonable and entirely feasible. Work with like-minded EU leaders and MEPs, including the Government's own, to advocate for economic sanctions.

A number of options are available to the Taoiseach to take action, many of which were outlined in our Private Members' motion taken this morning. They include economic sanctions relating to, for example, the EU-Israel trade agreement or the Horizon Europe fund, the passing of the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill or the occupied territories Bill, and a referral to the International Criminal Court. The Taoiseach says a referral to that court has already been made, but we made one along with 42 other countries in respect of Russia, so somebody else having done it is not a reason not to do it now.

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