Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Last night this Government voted against supporting South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice at the earliest possible opportunity. Instead it amended the Social Democrats motion to say the Government will only consider supporting the case at some point in the future. We now know the preliminary ruling is due tomorrow. But even then the Government has said it will not act and that its decision will only be made after South Africa submits its substantive case. Am I right in thinking it could take six, nine or maybe 12 months for the Government to make up its mind?

People want to know what is going on here. The Tánaiste has not been slow to use the word “genocide” before. Less than two months after Russia invaded Ukraine, he accused it of genocide. He did this while he was Taoiseach. He made an assessment that there was a risk of genocide and demanded that Russia be held to account, and it was. The Irish Government worked with the international community to freeze bank accounts, impose trade sanctions and set travel bans. The sanctions against Russia were rightly agreed within weeks. What consequences has Israel suffered for its actions in Gaza? Can the Tánaiste name even one?

I listened to the Tánaiste speak earlier this week when he said Israel has to be held to account. In what way? By whom? Because every time the Social Democrats and others have suggested ways that the Government could hold Israel to account, he refuses to act. He will not indicate support for South Africa at the International Court of Justice, he will not refer a case to the International Criminal Court, he will not lobby for economic sanctions at EU level, he will not withdraw the diplomatic status of the Israeli ambassador and he will not pass the Occupied Territories Bill or the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill. I am asking the Tánaiste to please not use his time to explain to me what the ICJ is and how it works. I know that.

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