Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

What is happening in the Middle East is very threatening but we do not use the same language. We are an independent republic. We are an independent sovereign state and we are neutral. We should use our voice to bring peace in the world. That is what we should be doing. I am desperately trying to see among this large figure of €67.7 billion what it is that Ireland is contributing while we dance on the top of a needle saying we are not providing military support and we are giving non-lethal aid. This is the difficulty for me. Then there is the contrast. Earlier, in the Tánaiste's speech on the motion, he spoke about €2 million or €3 million from us going to the International Court of Justice. That is what we have done for Gaza and the Palestinian people.

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