Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)

The Tánaiste said he will bring a memo on the occupied territories Bill to Cabinet next week. This is a long overdue but welcome step in aligning Ireland's trade policies with our values on human rights and international law. Not a grain of rice, drop of water or vial of medicine has entered Gaza for months. A trickle of aid has now been allowed in, but the Israeli Government is preventing it from being distributed. We all see the distressing images of emaciated children and their desperate parents every day. Gaza is a hellscape and the relentless slaughter and suffering is just incomprehensible and unbearable. All this is happening while we are waiting for the Government to publish the occupied territories Bill, which does not ban the trade of services. Why is the Government diluting the occupied territories Bill in this way? Why is it taking so long?

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