Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Murphy for raising what is such a deeply important issue for all of us, for the Middle East and for the world. The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Government have been at the forefront in responding to and representing the views of the Irish people on the conflict in the Middle East and what this means for the people of Gaza and Lebanon.

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste, who are continuing this approach and this work in New York at the UN at present, have at every stage of this awful conflict made the case for and called for an immediate ceasefire, for the release of all hostages, and for unhindered and free humanitarian access to be provided to ensure those who are left, particularly within Gaza, have access to the care they need in conditions that are truly awful and terrible. The Government will continue to make the case for this at the UN and to engage with partners within the EU and across the world on this issue. The Deputy will be aware of the initiative under way on the part of Egypt, Qatar and the US to try to put in place the conditions for a ceasefire. We call again for that to happen and to be adhered to.

On the point the Deputy has made on allegations regarding the passage of munitions through Irish sovereign territory, I inform the Dáil again that, for 2023 and the period to date in 2024, no applications have been received or exemptions granted for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft to a point in Israel. The House, including the Deputy, will be aware of our law in this area. The orders of 1973 and 1989 very explicitly prohibit the passage of munitions on civil aircraft through our airspace. No permission was sought and no permission was given. Of course, I am aware of the issues the Deputy has raised regarding the passage of aircraft through our airspace and the allegations being made in this regard. The Department of Transport is now conducting an examination into these reports and engaging with the carriers involved. We take any such allegations very seriously, but I go back to the substantive issue referred to, which is our ongoing condemnation of the loss of life and our active diplomacy within the EU and the UN to create the conditions for that to come to an end.

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