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

We all hope for an ambitious outcome to COP 28. We cannot be sure of it. We have seen the conflict of interests, particularly with regard to making those necessary move away from fossil fuels and into renewables. Was there any discussion with regard to the huge carbon footprint caused by the weapons industry and those who profit from slaughter. I refer to the type of slaughter we are seeing in Gaza at present, with 18,000 dead, including 8,000 children, 1 million in danger of starvation and 1.9 million displaced. The European Union and many of its leaders have been absolutely disgraceful in what they are doing to provide cover for Israel. I do not know how America or any other county could stand over a veto on a ceasefire. We need to make sure that we work, like we did with that letter, with those who are willing, and who are on the right side of this argument with regard to humanitarianism. We need to do that, and that involves sanctions, and sanctions beyond just those imposed on the people involved in the disgraceful settler movement. It also means that we have to deal with companies that are still able to put money into companies involved in illegal settlements in Palestine.

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