Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too wish Deputies Howlin and Murphy the very best. I thank them for their sterling and outstanding service here over many years. The House will be a poorer place without them.

The situation in Gaza is dire. The latest data suggests that as of 29 October 2024, more than 44,000 people, including 43,061 Palestinians and 1,706 Israelis, have been reported as killed in the Israel-Hamas war.

This includes 134 to 146 media workers, depending on the count you look at, 120 academics and more than 224 humanitarian aid workers, including 179 employees of UNRWA. It is outrageous that is allowed to take place and that aid workers and humanitarian workers who give up their time and put their lives at risk could be slaughtered.

The conflict, which began in October 2023, has also resulted in more than 101,000 Palestinians being wounded, 90% of the population displaced and critical infrastructure destroyed. These figures highlight the severe humanitarian crisis and underscore the importance of addressing this issue urgently. Ireland should always advocate for peace in the Middle East as a neutral country. Our history and lack of colonial legacy positions us uniquely to mediate and promote conflict resolution. While it is crucial to speak out against genocide and human rights violations, taking sides can be counterproductive and damage our neutrality and long-term prospects of peace. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is dire, with widespread displacement, destruction, and food insecurity. Ireland must continue to push for international aid and support for the affected populations.

Highlighting the need for a balanced approach, we should advocate for both immediate humanitarian relief and long-term political solutions to ensure sustainable peace. Ireland’s strong stance on Middle East issues, particularly its criticism of Israel’s actions, has occasionally strained relations with the US, a key ally of Israel. Balancing our commitment to human rights with diplomatic relations is essential. We must ensure our actions do not undermine our strategic partnerships, especially with the US, which is vital for our economic and our country's interests.

As a signatory to the genocide convention, Ireland has a legal and moral duty to prevent and punish acts of genocide. This includes taking a firm stance against any actions that constitute genocide. However, our approach should be measured and focused on promoting dialogue and peace rather than escalating tensions. Iran’s involvement in the region, which is not mentioned in the motion, particularly through its proxies like Hezbollah and, indeed, funding of Hamas, has significantly contributed to the ongoing tensions. lran’s support for these groups has been a strategic move to counterbalance its adversaries, notably Israel and Saudi Arabia. This influence complicates the situation further, as it adds another layer of conflict and instability to the region. Addressing the role of external actors like Iran is crucial in any comprehensive peace effort. By maintaining a balanced and principled stance, Ireland can effectively contribute to peace in the Middle East while safeguarding Its neutrality and international relationships.

On the economic impact, sanctions could disrupt economic relations between Israel and the sanctioning countries; this could also affect industries such as technology, agriculture and defence, leading to economic losses on both sides. Sanctions may strain diplomatic relations, not only between Israel and the sanctioning countries but also with allies of Israel, such as the United States. We in Ireland have 300,000 people working here in US firms and with the new administration in the States, it is imperative that bridges are rebuilt with the United States to protect our FDI sector.

In Clonmel alone - the wonderful town of Cluain Meala, the vale of honey - we have nearly 6,000 FDI supported jobs. Merck, Sharp and Dohme, for example, is there for almost 60 years and it is a wonderful company. We have Abbott and Boston Scientific and trasna an bhóthair in Contae Phort Láirge in Dungarvan there are another couple of thousand jobs. It is vital to the south east and to our economy. Those workers and their families are so welcome in south Tipperary and Clonmel and are so welcome in Ireland. They contribute to a huge industry and have a huge social impact as well. The supply and service industry that supports them is huge and is nearly as big as the FDI job numbers themselves.

On regional stability, sanctions might exacerbate tensions in the Middle East, potentially leading to increased instability. This could affect neighbouring countries and contribute to a broader regional conflict. While sanctions aim to pressure governments, they can also inadvertently harm civilians by limiting access to essential goods and services. This could worsen the humanitarian situation in the region. It is hard to believe it could be worse but it could actually and we have to be careful. Israel might respond to sanctions with its own set of retaliatory measures, which could include economic or diplomatic actions against the sanctioning countries. This could lead to a tit-for-tat escalation, further complicating international relations.

Sanctions could hinder ongoing peace efforts by hardening positions and reducing the willingness of parties to engage in dialogue. This could make it more difficult to achieve a negotiated settlement to the conflicts. That would be the totally wrong thing to do and the wrong outcome. The imposition of sanctions must be carefully considered to ensure they comply with international law and do not violate human rights further. There is a risk that poorly designed sanctions could be seen as unjust or discriminatory.

In summary, while sanctions are a tool to exert pressure, they come with significant risks that need to be carefully weighed up. A balanced approach that considers both the immediate and long-term consequences is essential to avoid unintended negative consequences. I appealed on Tuesday during the Order of Business for the Dáil to sit tomorrow to pass the occupied territories Bill. Today is not a very busy day. We discussed this at the Business Committee. Two of the parties here, Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats, offered their Private Members' time to do it. If the Government were willing or interested enough to pass this, it would have been passed. It should have been passed and the Dáil could have sat for another day if necessary. It is such an important issue and we need to show there is unanimous support in the House for that cause. I do not know why the Government has dragged its feet and there was an outright refusal to pass this legislation.

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