Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I too thank People Before Profit for bringing this motion before the House. This motion notes the systematic abuses of Palestinian people over the decades, as well as the current bombardment, displacement and discrimination of the Palestinian people. A system of apartheid is firmly in place when it comes to the attitude adopted by the Israeli State towards the Palestinian people who, it has to be said, are not treated with the equality that the Israeli Government would demand for itself. Instead, we hear the dehumanising comments and we see an approach that seeks to justify killing of civilians and especially children on a scale and of such speed that it has been described by the United Nations Secretary-General as unparalleled and unprecedented in any conflict he has witnessed while in his role. And the world watches on, just like the world has watched on as Palestinians were displaced, discriminated against, subjugated and, as we have seen now and in the past, indiscriminately killed.

In this discussion, we need to look closer to home at what we are or what we are not doing. In May, Deputy John Brady brought forward legislation designed to compel the Irish Strategic Investment Fund to divest its investments in enterprises contained in the UN database of business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. This Government kicked the can down the road on that one. If we continue to stop short of sanctioning the Israeli Government for its actions, Israel will continue to pursue its objectives undeterred, as it has done in the past.

Let us not overlook the activity at Shannon Airport. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has told Members of this House that all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly or land in the State require diplomatic clearance from him. Diplomatic clearance is subject to conditions including that the aircraft is unarmed, carries no arms, does not engage in intelligence gathering and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation. When asked for the steps he has taken to ensure that military aircraft of foreign states landing in Ireland or overflying through our airspace comply with these conditions, the Minister appears to be deliberately vague.

Last week Sinn Féin brought forward a motion in which we asked for the Israeli actions to be referred to the ICC requesting an investigation into the acts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. I put it to the Minister of State that this is what is happening here. It is genocide and ethnic cleansing at its worst.

The actions of Hamas on 7 October ought to be condemned and so ought the continuing actions of the Israeli Government. We need to reflect that sentiment in our actions and not just our words.

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