Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

In the Taoiseach's talks with the French Prime Minister, I wonder if there was any discussion about what was then an upcoming decision by the European Commission - since made - to effectively tighten the screws on Palestinian aid when Gaza has been reduced to rubble and people are left without food, water, and fuel? In the aftermath of 7 October, the European Commission announced it would review Palestinian development aid from the European Union. It completed that review, which found that existing safeguards "work well" and said that "no evidence has been found to date that money has been diverted for unintended purposes." Then why on earth is the Commission planning to impose stricter controls on an aid system that has not had any problems and when there has not been any diversion of funds? The consequence is that €39 million of money due to NGOs and civil society organisations is being held up until new paperwork is submitted. This money is urgently needed on the ground. This happens in the context whereby aid to Palestine has decreased dramatically since Hungary's Várhelyi took over as the relevant Commissioner and since the Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, originally went to Israel and gave a green light for the genocidal policy that has been unleashed. I wonder whether the Taoiseach discussed it with the French Prime Minister and whether the Irish Government is opposed to this restriction.

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