Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise with the Taoiseach again the suffering of the people of Gaza as they continue to endure the relentless bombing by Israel with over 18,000 now dead. I very much welcome the Government's announcement that it has been working with like-minded governments in the EU, namely, Belgium, Spain and Malta, to press the European Council this Thursday and Friday for a ceasefire. That is very welcome and we absolutely support him on that.

It is also welcome to hear that he will be raising the question of sanctions against violent settlers and, indeed, against Hamas. I ask for clarity because I think the Taoiseach also said he would press for a review of the EU Israel Association Agreement. Will the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste be pressing to invoke Article 82 of that agreement which provides for cancellation of the agreement in light of the very serious ongoing issues, of the UN Security Council vote last week and of what the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNWRA, is telling us, which is that it is now unable to cope with the waves of disease and devastation which are sweeping across Gaza? Will the Government invoke Article 82 of the agreement and press at EU level for that to be done?

See this speech in context