Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

These are challenging times and the ICC faces a challenging situation. It also must be a challenging time for the European Union. I do not know if the EU has ever had a preferential association arrangement with a state whose civilian and military leadership are the subject of ICC arrest warrants. The question has to be asked of European and, indeed, Irish leaders as to how it came to pass that we would have these types of preferential arrangements with a state in respect of which the ICC has, reluctantly perhaps, is advocating the issuing of arrest warrants. We have to outline that this is a serious game-changer in terms of the relationships we have with the State of Israel.

I ask again for the Government to undertake a whole-of-government review, Department by Department, to identify potential sanctions that are within our competency to impose in order to send out a very clear message that not only do we abhor Israel's breaches of international law but that we will also ensure that there are consequences for same.

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