Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

What we are witnessing in Gaza at the moment is horrific with the slaughtering of innocents and the withholding of aid. The past number of months have been horrific. I acknowledge the role the Tánaiste has played. Indeed, the Taoiseach has been very much to the fore in condemning what is going on there. The Taoiseach's intervention yesterday with his counterpart in Spain, the Tánaiste's press conference today and meeting this morning, and the allocation of a further €20 million in aid to the Palestinian people are all very welcome but it appears that the Irish voice is in the minority from a European perspective in relation to what is happening in Gaza. I myself witnessed that as part of the Council of Europe debates a couple of weeks ago. We are in the minority. Europe is not standing behind the Palestinian people. As a consequence, innocent people, including innocent children, are losing their lives daily. What more can this Government do to get our partners in Europe on-side to protect innocent people and to save lives because it has gone on too long? Second, the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, from an Irish perspective, is something that is long overdue, long-promised and in the programme for Government. When can we envisage or expect that Bill to come before the House?

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