Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted that South Africa, a country with a very chequered history, brought forward this case. Words mean a lot but words can be semantics at times. The ICJ can only find a country guilty of genocide so it has said that there is a "plausible" claim of genocide in its interim judgement. I am surprised and disappointed that while we have close ties with the US, which I want to maintain, Ireland has not called in the US ambassador to persuade him to put more pressure on Israel to stop this horrible genocide and slaughter. There are war crimes by the dozen. To think that a population equivalent to the population of the city of Kilkenny, which is not far away from the Minister of State in Leinster, could be wiped out like this brings home the sheer horror of this, as does the number of children slaughtered and the attacks on hospitals. Humanitarian aid convoys are being attacked and if they are not attacked, they are being delayed, frustrated and over-searched with the unloading of all the vital aid. I heard that even tent poles could be used as a weapon. How far can this be stretched?

I also fundamentally condemn Hamas for its actions. I am shocked by the allegation, although it is only an allegation, that 12 employees of UNRWA were involved in plotting the attacks of 7 October. We need to be careful with our NGOs and the people we support, although these people are innocent until proven guilty. Three have gone missing and I think one is believed to be dead but if that is what they were doing in our name with taxpayers' money, it is horribly wrong.

This must be called out for what it is. It is a wiping out of a whole population and moving them to hell or to Connacht. They are moved from one area to the next safe area and then bombed out of that area too. We cannot stand idly by and watch this. I hope Sinn Féin is in the limo with invitations to do with the shamrock. I do not know whether it will pony up with this or speak on both sides of its mouth.

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