Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Today is incredibly important for the Government in the context of finally taking a stand and taking action against the horrific genocide occurring in Palestine. As I said during the debate last night, the Irish people have marched on this week after week, including more than 100,000 people in Dublin the week before last, which made it one of the largest demonstrations in many years. To be fair, the Irish public are far ahead of the Government in the way they are reacting to what is happening in Palestine and what is happening to all those people, men, women and children, who are being horrifically killed. Atrocities are occurring there that we thought we would never see in our lifetimes. We all heard, read and looked at the stories of the war, and what happened in Nazi Germany and the concentration camps, but I am sure that the majority of us would have liked to think we would never see that again.

I look at the great work that was done on this island in the way people in all the different parties, and none, and all the individuals and religious people, came together and brought us to where we are in Ireland today, where we can sort our differences and problems through political means and negotiations. It is great to see that and that we have peace on this island in that way. We are witnessing the most horrible of awful, horrendous acts that no human being should perpetrate on another. There is no excuse. There is no, "Well, it is all right", because this is completely an example of man's inhumanity against man. To think of innocent children being slaughtered in the way they are is, to be honest, stomach-churning.

We should play our small part in any way we can. We cannot exaggerate the role that we can play, but even the people who are coming out and protesting, in itself sends a message from Ireland. We are only a small country and a neutral one but, at the same time, we are expressing our outrage and horror. As politicians we should not be shouting at each other in the Chamber about what we should or should not do. We should all be of the same voice, which is that we stand for humanity, for people's dignity, for their right to be able to live their lives in peace, and for the protection of innocent children. We should stand together in ensuring our small voice is heard. Of course, the Americans and all these other superpowers in the world have a far greater role to play. To be honest, maybe they are not covering themselves in glory in some instances, but they have to be made see that this is wrong. It is inherently wrong. It is wrong in every aspect. I would like to think that is going out from Dáil Éireann today and, on my part, from County Kerry. As I did last night, I again thank the groups in Killarney, Tralee and throughout County Kerry who marched, the voluntary organisers who spoke so well and so diligently at the market cross in Killarney, people such as Sally MacMonagle, and great concerned activists. They are sincere people who have the best interests of this whole issue at heart and who are rightfully outraged.

I just want to thank those people, as a Kerry representative, for the great work they are doing. We must all stick together on this issue. Thank you very much.

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