Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The killing of children in the West Bank and the fact that there have been budgetary moves by the Israelis to provide new moneys for new settlements tell us where this particular regime sands. The Tánaiste said it - there is international pressure on and particularly from America, but also from the European Union.

I attended a COSAC conference in Madrid recently. I would not be too impressed with statements from parties across Europe, some of which would be progressive on many issues. People make comments about anti-terrorist operations against Hamas in a way that it is as if 6,000 Palestinian children had not already been killed. I am not taking away from the difficulties involved in delivering at European level, but we know there is a small group of countries that have similar notions to ourselves in the context of humanitarianism.

I welcome what the Tánaiste said about a structured agreement with the Palestinians. We need to look at the Israel-EU Association Agreement. We may need to make moves ourself if we cannot get people to move but it will be good if the Tánaiste can get into the interactions with those countries that are similar to ourself in wanting to see something that will deliver a roadmap.

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