Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ireland is a force for peace in the world. In our motion today we condemned the continued Israeli bombardment of Gaza. I condemned the Hamas attack on 7 October. We are seeking peace and we have called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Ireland is consistent in its approach to these matters. We voted for the Arab resolution at the United Nations seeking an immediate cessation of all violence in Gaza. We have been very consistent. We were one of the first EU member states to come out on our own to state we want a ceasefire. We made it very clear when the Arab resolution came forward. Our commitment to the Palestinians is far greater than €3 million. That was unfair and Deputy Connolly knows it. I have said it, and the Deputy has been in the House on numerous occasions when I have detailed our support to UNRWA, which was approximately €18 million last year in terms of the occupied territories alone. There is also our support of OCHA with additional funding for its work in Palestine. The European Union is the biggest donor to the Palestinians but we need to do more.

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