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

There was a time when I could proudly refer to the EU as a peace project. I can no longer refer to it in such terms. There has been a degree of apathy among some nations. I do not hold us accountable for that. We have stood out because the bar was so low. Given that what is happening has already met the standard of a genocide and a famine is approaching, how can this week’s European Council meeting have almost the same agenda as the one in January? At the end of January when reflecting on the December European Council meeting, we lamented the post-Council conclusions and how they were divorced from the reality on the ground in Gaza. They condemned Hamas in the strongest terms and recognised Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law. Only thirdly did the conclusions express the European Council’s grave concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, as if it were happening due to some freak of nature. Today is 20 March, and here are the priorities listed for this month’s Council meeting. Once again, it condemns Hamas first. Second, the Council will recognise Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law. Third, it will once again acknowledge the grave concerns about the situation in Gaza. This is a deplorable abdication of responsibility when one considers the horror being inflicted – and it is being inflicted – by the State of Israel on people in Gaza. The exact same conclusions from January, relating to December’s meeting, are now being put forward in March.

The EU and its leaders are choosing to turn their backs on one of the most horrific events in recent memory. It is difficult to say that someone chooses to turn his or her back, but I use that language purposely. What else can we take from the fact that there is still almost a refusal to find a consensus on calling for a ceasefire or on imposing sanctions? After many months of lobbying from us and others, the Taoiseach wrote to Ursula von der Leyen and asked whether Israel was in breach of the humanitarian clauses of the EU-Israel trade agreement. I believe the Taoiseach stated that there had not even been an official response from Ursula von der Leyen’s office. He mentioned that it had been discussed at the previous Council meeting, but I want more than just to be told it was discussed. I want the documented minutes of that discussion. I want to know who was in favour, who was against, and what could be the justification for not enforcing the agreement’s humanitarian clauses. Otherwise, we might as well just rip them up. We are watching genocide not just through the dropping of 2,000 lb bombs on a tiny area with a civilian population, but also through an enforced famine, with famine being used as a weapon of war.

I appreciate the efforts being made across the Chamber by Ministers and others, but there does not seem to be the same degree of urgency. The Government says it will raise the matter and talk with our partners, but we need more than that. We need to be screaming it from the top of our lungs. No longer is it the time for polite letters, waiting for responses that never come or holding side meetings with someone at the European Council. We need to start demanding. When we sign up to these agreements, we do so with all of our constituencies in mind. Ireland is a part of these agreements and we are representing the Irish people, so where such agreements exist, we have to enforce them. Otherwise, what is their purpose? When I knock on doors and go out canvassing, this is the number one issue that people are raising. People are asking about how we are enabling this to happening. It genuinely feels that we are enabling this to happen. When I say “we”, I do not just mean us. I mean the EU collectively. What is happening is undermining the EU. I am a proud citizen of the EU and always have been, but what is happening is obliterating that.

Now is the time for strong leadership to emerge. We cannot just keep operating under the same belief we had a month or two ago that we cannot act unilaterally. We have to. As he goes to his last European Council meeting, that is what I urge the Taoiseach to do.

There are other issues. The EU has taken a dark turn. Parties of the EU, in particular the European People’s Party, are taking a shift to the right that is unbecoming of the EU’s founding principles. As we stand at this critical juncture, the EPP of Ursula von der Leyen and Fine Gael has found itself wanting on, for example, the issues of migration and the nature restoration law. These are complex but vital issues for everyone's future, yet we are seeing people mimic the far right to stop it overtaking them. I will highlight this in a number of ways. For example, the EU is now proposing something similar to the Tories' horrific Rwanda deal and the Taoiseach has given the impression that we support that. We cannot. If that is what the EU is becoming, then it is in opposition to the fundamental principles. People want to come here precisely because the EU was built on a foundation on peace. If bombs are being dropped on them, why would they not want to seek that? Despite that, we want to export people to other countries that are less safe. That would not be done in my name. It certainly would not be done in the name of the people of Dublin. We are better than that.

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