Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Those are the two reasons the Government thinks Sinn Féin's proposal would be of no use and would be unbalanced. What we are going to do is to provide an additional €3 million to the International Criminal Court. This will be of practical assistance and help it to gather the evidence and to carry out any prosecutions necessary.

I reiterate the Government's condemnation, without equivocation, of Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October, which began this phase of the conflict. They sought to kill and torture as many civilians as possible without any mercy. There is no equivalence and no excuse for that. They provoked and perhaps even hoped for what has followed. Three things have to happen now. Hamas should release all of the hostages, particularly the children, including Emily Hand, the Irish hostage, who we believe is being held in tunnels in Gaza at the moment. They should lay down their arms because they are a terrorist organisation. I hope Sinn Féin in the Deputy's reply will support me in both those calls. While Israel has a right to defend itself, this is not self defence. This is collective punishment. This is disproportionate. It is wrong. That is why there should be a ceasefire immediately-----

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