Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Government will say it has taken action and has led the way for the international community to stand against Israel's actions, but the public disagree. They see its actions as minimal and basic. The Government has continued with business as usual but there is nothing usual about this time. It is now 13 months on, with more than 395 days of slaughter, hunger, torture and atrocities that we cannot fathom. More than 44,000 are dead, 7,000 of whom were children, such as Salma, a beautiful girl to whom I dedicate my statement. It is a cruel and inhumane loss of life. As a mother of six children, my heart breaks every time I see Salma's face. The Minister of State needs to bear in mind what he will say when his grandchildren ask him what he and the Government do to stop this genocide. They will, for sure, hold us all accountable.

Shannon Airport has been used since 2003 to transport arms but this Government will not even inspect one single plane flying through our airspace. There is hypocrisy. Incredibly, our trade with Israel has increased in the past year. This is why the Government's actions and motives are being questioned. If that is the best that Ireland can do, then the Government must accept that it leaves us complicit in this genocide. That is not in my name. I am very concerned by the rhetoric coming from the US ambassador in regard to the occupied territories Bill and the threat that Ireland cannot control our own foreign relations decisions. Will the Government stand by while American allies fuel Israel's atrocities and let them tell us how to act?

We must pass the motion. I commend the Social Democrats on bringing it forward. We must take a stand against genocide, the killings of innocent people and war. We know the difference between right and wrong. We must call out Israel's crimes. Let us make no mistake: this is a genocide. If we do not act now, there will be blood on the Minister of State's hands.

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