Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)

Ireland's voice is neutral, trusted and morally urgent. Our neutrality is not passive; it is active, credible and principled. We are here to protect life and dignity without taking sides. Ireland is trusted because we do not serve geopolitical interests. Starvation as a weapon is a breach of international law. Deliberate denial of food and aid is collective punishment. It is a war crime we know from our history during the Great Famine and from the oppression visited on us, the Irish, by others. There is a devastating impact from such actions.

I want to mention a group that last week brought the Australian ambassador to Dunmanway to celebrate the anniversary of 14 people who were forced to leave Dunmanway and go to Australia under a programme during the Famine. I thank Ms Michelle O'Mahony and the Australian ambassador for coming to what was a great celebration that I attended last Saturday in Dunmanway.

I also had a constituent remind me that, since 2000, extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP and Fulani militias had slaughtered 62,000 Nigerian Christians in a genocide shrouded in silence. This atrocity is known as the "silent slaughter" throughout Africa. Ireland stands firm in its commitment to justice and human rights for the people in Gaza but let us not forget the rest of the world. We must ensure our voice is heard in advocating for all victims of injustice regardless of where they are from.

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