Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. On 14 February I wrote to the Tánaiste and other Ministers and Ministers of State. The letter was cosigned by a number of my Green Party colleagues. In the letter we called on Ministers to take the opportunity afforded by St. Patrick's Day to reiterate the position of the Irish Government, supported by the Irish people, on Gaza. We have three asks, namely, that there should be an immediate humanitarian ceasefire with a pathway to a lasting peace, that all participants in the conflict should be held to account for their actions under humanitarian law and that there should be an immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza.

Ireland has always been a powerful voice for peace on the international stage. This is an opportunity very few countries of our size have to carry that message to the centres of power. I have received letters of acknowledgement, but I have not received a substantive response from the Tánaiste's office or from any of the others. I take this opportunity to encourage the Government to use St. Patrick's Day to bring this message to the corridors of power all across the world.

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