Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is not the first time I have stood here and said that once again it is Groundhog Day. We have dealt with many serious issues in relation to this. Everyone has their single transferable speech. At times I have stood and said that everything had already been said. Everything was already said when the first speaker got up today. We accept that Ireland is not a global superpower. We accept that we do not have the power to stop Benjamin Netanyahu engaging in outright genocide but we know what we can do. It is a matter of doing those pieces that we can.

The Tánaiste spoke earlier about engaging on UN sanctions or the possibility of EU sanctions but when one is talking about the EU-Israel association agreement - I do not particularly understand it - why would one have humanitarian conditions and the need for some form of unanimous agreement in relation to deliverability? This shows us how bad the rest of the world is in relation to this. This shows us how genocides happen across this world and throughout the entirety of history. As Deputy Farrell has said, it is now televised. We are seeing Chełmno and we are seeing Auschwitz. We are seeing all of these things but no-one is stopping it. It just continues on and on.

We have an abject failure at EU level. This issue was brought up by Lynn Boylan MEP, in relation to the EU-Israel association agreement. We hear that the situation in Gaza is appalling. We are faced with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. We are using this platform to communicate to the Israelis very clearly our position on the appalling situation in Gaza, on the need of humanitarian aid, on the cessation of violence, on the ceasefire that is needed, and on the need to have a two-state solution. I believe that the answer on a two-state solution is absolutely clear from Benjamin Netanyahu. We all welcome that we recognise the State of Palestine. We recognise the appointment of the ambassador properly but what will she be ambassador to? Who will be left? What are we talking about? I believe that Benjamin Netanyahu, as he makes sure that he holds on to his job, is willing to do whatever is necessary. He does not care who he has to kill, whether that is in Lebanon, whether it is endangering our own UN troops out there, or whether that is in an absolute and disgraceful humanitarian apocalypse in north Gaza. The entire Palestinian population in north Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease famine and violence. That is from acting UN aid chief Joyce Msuya.

She said humanitarian aid cannot keep up with the scale of the needs due to the access constraints. Basic life-saving goods are not available. Humanitarians are not safe to do their work and are blocked by the Israeli forces and by insecurity from reaching people in need. That is what we are looking at and dealing with.

It is genocide. That is absolutely clear across the world. What can we do? It is straightforward. It has been said by almost every person who has spoken here today that we need to ensure that no dual-use technologies are used for genocidal weapons that come from Ireland. We need to ensure that there are no overflights of weapons. It is all well and good talking about procedure and legal frameworks but we need to see enforcement. It is sad that we have to rely on the website ontheditch.comto ensure this issue is brought to light. That is why people talk about complicity.

Of course, no one accepts that the Government is involved and is supporting what Benjamin Netanyahu is at but we need to make sure that as the Irish people are against this genocide, we do everything we possibly can. Regarding the illegal settlement divestment Bill, I accept when this issue was brought up that there was pressure on Government and that there has been an element of divestment, but we need complete divestment. We were a small country when brave women stood up in Dunnes Stores against apartheid in South Africa, which had an impact.

We should deal with the occupied territories Bill. We should be doing real business. I accept this does not change everything but even if it is only a chink, calling out the Israelis properly or an element of real sanctions, then it would be worthwhile. I assume the Irish people will put this to every Government representative that knocks on the door in the next while. As much as we need this dealt with now, there has to be follow-through as soon as possible because at this point in time we are failing to do all we can and are failing the Palestinian people as they are slaughtered on a day-by-day basis.

See this speech in context