Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)

Chas mise le Sophie Ní Choimín ar an Luan agus chas mé arís léi inné agus í anseo sa Dáil. Tá Sophie ar stailc ocrais ón Aoine agus í ag fanacht go mbeadh an Bille um chríocha faoi fhorghabháil ina reachtaíocht. Tá sí ag fanacht air sin agus tá sí ar stailc ocrais mar go gcreideann sí go láidir gur féidir linn agus leis an Rialtas i bhfad níos mó a dhéanamh chun stop a chur leis an gcinedhíothú atá ag tarlú i nGaza. I have met Sophie Ní Choimín who lives in Galway. I met her on Monday, the fourth day of her hunger strike as she awaits the enactment of the occupied territories Bill. She came to the Dáil yesterday to meet TDs as she continued her hunger strike because she feels so strongly that we and the Government can do more. We often hear that politicians say the right thing but do the wrong thing. There is nothing clearer than the occupied territories Bill. The Government knows that goods account for 30% of trade and services account for 70% of trade. In the lead-up to the general election, Government parties were in favour of the occupied territories Bill being enacted but now, post the election, they want to see a watered-down version enacted which would only include goods. I commend Sophie's bravery.

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