Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity - two and half minutes - to speak on this and I will choose words carefully and with focus.

We have 17 pages from the European Council meeting conclusions and I have failed to find Israel mentioned in any of those pages. Does that not tell you something? These are the conclusions of the recent European Council meeting and Israel is not mentioned. Genocide is not mentioned. Gaza is referenced regarding the deploring of the breakdown of the ceasefire but it does not tell us who broke the ceasefire and it talks about the return. It recalls "the importance of unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance". What kind of language is this - "recalls the importance of unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance." Is it in a void? What has happened that we need to recall the importance of humanity and giving food to starving people? What has happened to context? What has happened to meaning?

I hope the Minister of State is uncomfortable - I really do - because I was more than uncomfortable reading 17 pages and failing to find one reference to Israel or genocide. The two highest courts in the world; one where Israel is up for genocide and the other having issued a warrant for his arrest, yet not a mention of the trade agreement that continues. There is not a mention or discussion of it; not a mention of the occupied territories Bill. Perhaps I missed it in the Taoiseach's speech.

I am wondering what I can say as I look at the ramping up of the arms industry, set out in black and white in the 17 pages and how we are going to spur the economies of the European countries, including Germany, by ramping up the arms industry, killing and slaughtering people. The Minister is shaking his head.

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