Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

My question pertains specifically to South Africa's case at the ICJ. I welcome that the Attorney General represented Ireland very well at the public hearings, but my question specifically relates to the process by which we will align ourselves with South Africa's case. I would like to understand the work that has been undertaken to this point. How many people, for example, are working on this matter in the Department of Foreign Affairs, and what is the timeline regarding our announcement concerning an intervention? Why are we leaving South Africa with the sole responsibility? We also have a responsibility in view of the fact that we also signed up to the genocide convention. Nothing is stopping us from initiating our own case, which the court, if it chose, could align with South Africa's case. It was built very strongly on the area of the Israeli Government's rhetoric. We would also have particular foreign affairs-related expertise concerning many factors. One achievement of the Tánaiste's Department has been the banning of the use of large-scale munitions in urban environments. Israel is dropping 2,000 lb bombs every day around Rafah, which is a tent city. Does the Tánaiste not think that we have expertise here that would allow us not only to intervene but to initiate proceedings of our own to add weight to South Africa's case?

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