Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The World Economic Forum has its critics, as we have just heard. Heads of corporations, NGOs and experts of all kinds fly in and mix with global leaders to pontificate about global issues. It can all seem a bit removed from the ordinary citizen. However, having listened to the Taoiseach's response, I can certainly see the benefits of a forum of this kind. By all accounts, the Taoiseach used the opportunity to engage with other leaders on the appalling situation in Gaza and to press for a humanitarian ceasefire and the establishment of a viable Palestinian state. We now see another disaster unfolding in Rafah. EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has rightly suggested the ceasing of weapons sales to Israel by the US and other countries. I ask the Taoiseach to use whatever influence he has, particularly with the US Administration, to stop Israel's offensive on the 1.5 million civilians in Rafah and to try to bring about a humanitarian ceasefire.

It is reported today that, along with the Spanish Prime Minister, the Taoiseach has written to the President of the European Commission to express his concerns in this regard. I heard the response he gave to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle about this earlier but I would be interested to hear more about the letter, whether the Taoiseach received a response and what he actually said to Ursula von der Leyen.

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