Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

On the last point, Shannonwatch has reported a huge increase since October in the number of US military flights stopping over in Shannon. That means something. I do not know where the Tánaiste gets that level of confidence that there is no military use of the aircraft that are stopping in Shannon because we do not inspect them. We do not get on board and inspect the cargo, see who the passengers are or find out what their intentions are. If you cannot do that at the very least, God help us and God help Gaza because you are literally not doing anything.

The Tánaiste has said we will recognise the Palestinian state but will not take serious sanctions against Israel as we did against South Africa when it was an apartheid state and its tyranny was recognised throughout the world. We took serious sanctions against South Africa and that helped to bring that regime down. If you want to end the apartheid nature of the Israeli state and brutal genocidal nature of the Israeli state then you have to take action. Words are no use. I completely agree with the rapporteur whom the Tánaiste wrote to on that issue.

However, the Government needs to address the question of US military coming through Shannon. There will be a protest there on Sunday and there will be more protests as this Middle East conflict escalates. As Shannon is used increasingly by the US military, our neutrality is being increasingly compromised.

The Tánaiste has not addressed the question I asked him about the Bill to ditch the triple lock, and I need that addressed, please. He also needs to address properly the question of Shannon. Those planes are not being inspected.

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