Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)

I am going to return to the genocide that is taking place in Palestine.

The Taoiseach said the problem was that Israel was riding roughshod over the world. That is not entirely accurate because most of Europe is behind Israel and America is certainly behind Israel. In practical terms, despite the very good words the Taoiseach has used and his describing what has happened lately as a war crime, we are still failing to take action. Now more than ever, we need to show leadership. We cannot say we are the best boys in the class if we are allowing Shannon Airport to be used, if we fail to pass the occupied territories Bill, if we are still trading with Israel through the European bloc and so on. It is not possible to stand on both sides. Notwithstanding the good things the Government has done, we need now more than ever to take action when the UN itself is in serious danger because of the complete diminution of its importance by Israel and America.

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