Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I regret that we could not get the wording to Deputy Bacik sooner but we had to get it through Government. In the absence of agreement by Government, it was very hard to share it. It is very important we do get agreement. Part of the reason the people want the Government to take a strong line on this is that historically, as a State, we have stood up for the UN Declaration of Human Rights, but that is not exclusive. It also applies to Hamas and to what happened on 7 October. We cannot ignore the death, loss of life and the nature of what happened on that day. We also cannot ignore the disproportionate response from Israel and the fact there is a clear case that has to be heard by the International Court of Justice. We will respond to that in the way we do to all such human rights issues, which is through proper legal international processes because following that approach means our voice is listened to and we are heard. The Department of Foreign Affairs has real expertise in this area, in terms of how we speak at international, UN and other forums, and the Government listens to and heeds the Department's advice because it is really good at this. It knows how to get the legal structures right.

Legal process is important here. This is not an insignificant issue or an unimportant legal issue. We have shown in the past an absolute willingness to take a legal position.

In regard to Russia's accusation of genocide in Ukraine, we supported Ukraine in its response to that some five months after the initial accusation because that was the right way to legally counterargue it. It is similar with regard to the UN process where cases have been taken to the International Court of Justice. We are one of the few European countries that has stood up and is willing to back the Palestinian case in written format. Next month, on 22 February, our Attorney General will stand up for half an hour to represent the injustice that has been occurring in Palestine for decades, as well as the past 100 days.

The Government responded a number of weeks ago regarding what it could do. The best and most important thing we were asked to do, which we delivered straightaway, was to resource the courts. The depiction of this is that the Government is not willing to stand up in the courts when it is the exact opposite. We await the provisional outcomes, but my understanding is the South African case in its initial application is looking for, in every instance, what we have said we want to deliver and what we agree. Let us use our voice in the international forums where it can be strongest. Let us pull the European Union, which we have been doing, towards a position that is closer to the position Ireland holds, which is not where Europe started. Let us use that not just in relation to South Africa's case but as regards the issue of the recognition of sanctions due to what is happening in the West Bank, not just in Gaza, against some of the ongoing atrocities that are taking place. That is the approach the Government is taking which is set out in the motion.

To give our public reassurance, we can absolutely see what is happening and we want to try to impact on it. We do that best in the way we have always done, through the United Nations, the right process, the legal mechanisms, and being strong and clear with our voice, which we are and will be. This injustice has to end today. We will stand with the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights for all citizens in the world. As small a nation as we are, when we get that voice right, and apply it to the legal structures and institutions that are in place, it is where we can be most effective to protect those poor people in Gaza suffering the bombardment and starvation they are today.

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