Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I speak with a heavy heart as we witness the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the slaughter of innocent civilians caught up in the crossfire of a brutal and unrelenting conflict. This suffering demands not only our sympathy, but our swift action.

Ireland has a proud tradition of neutrality, of standing actively for peace and international law and for the protection of human dignity. That tradition must guide us now. We must call unequivocally for an immediate and sustained ceasefire. The violence must end. We must support the deployment and protection of neutral UN peacekeeping forces to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those who most need it. Our neutrality is not passive; it is principled and always has been. It gives us the moral authority to be a voice for peace on the international stage. We must use it and use it strongly.

Humanitarian aid must flow unimpeded. Medical supplies, food and clean water are not luxuries - they are rights. Ireland must press for safe humanitarian corridors. A ceasefire is the first step but peace will only come through justice, accountability and respect for international law on all sides. Let us be clear that Ireland stands for peace, neutrality and the protection of life.

There are other parts of the world where there is massive slaughter of Christians going on on a daily, if not hourly, basis. The world’s leaders and media seem to turn a blind eye to it. That is reprehensible and totally unacceptable. I will travel in August to meet the International Catholic Legislators Network, ICLN. We debate that each year. There will be parliamentarians from many of the countries affected by this savagery and brutality. It is extensive and we must be a voice against that also.

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