Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)

I thank everybody who contributed to this cross-party motion and spoke on it today. Let us be very clear about this. The Minister and the Government are hiding behind technicalities and standard arguments that are wheeled out to justify inaction. The Government could act on this if it wanted to do so. The Central Bank is independent; that is correct. However, as Deputy Connolly pointed out, it is not independent of the law. We, as Members elected to Dáil Éireann by the people, have a role and mandate to enact legislation and to enact emergency legislation in this regard. We have a responsibility to do so. As my colleague, Deputy Gibney, pointed out, the Central Bank itself has stated that a legal basis for refusal of approval of the prospectus for these bonds would be national restrictive measures. As the Dáil, we could do that. The Government has stated it will not bring forward emergency legislation because it would be open to legal challenge. That is meaningless language. Every piece of legislation brought through this Dáil is, of course, open to legal challenge. If that was the threshold, this Government would never enact any legislation whatsoever. We have clear, independent advice from the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers that measures on this issue would be in compliance with Irish, EU and international law.

It is utterly wrong for the Whip to be used this evening on backbench Government TDs in respect of this motion. They should be given a free vote so they can vote with their conscience. Every TD has a responsibility to do so this evening. At least 54,000 people have been killed, probably many more, in Gaza and we need action on this now. How much longer will it take for us to have action on this? What would have to happen for the Government to take action on this? These bonds are being used to help fund genocide and bombs landing on the heads of people in Gaza. We need every TD in this Dáil to vote this evening for this motion to enact emergency legislation to stop the facilitation of the sale of these bonds.

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