Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Tánaiste said, clearly the situation is unfolding. UNIFIL is due to give a statement shortly but the reports are extremely concerning. I agree that of course we need to see an immediate ceasefire. It is also true, as the Tánaiste said, that Israel is not listening to allies. It is not listening to anyone. That is the point. It is continuing to act because it believes it can do so with impunity. Netanyahu's Government has lost all sense of moral compass, international law and compliance. As a small state here in Ireland, where people share such outrage at Israel's actions, sometimes people can feel helpless and ask, "What can we do?" Certainly we have done some important things, such as the recognition of the State of Palestine, which was very important. We can, should and must go further, however. I take some encouragement from the Tánaiste's response. As he said, the ICJ opinion does change the situation. It does create a different and changed legal context in which it becomes even more imperative that we pass meaningful trade sanctions on Israel here from Ireland. The EU is Israel's biggest trade partner. This is how we can have an impact on Israeli policies through trade. Will the Tánaiste assure us that he is actively looking for ways to pass the Bill rather than reasons not to? Let us hope the Attorney General's opinion will give us a way forward.

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