Natasha Newsome Drennan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)

Genocide is taking place in Gaza. There is widespread ethnic cleansing happening across Palestine. Israel is an apartheid state. Almost every week, weapons are being transported through Ireland to Israel and these weapons are being used to continue that genocide and ethnic cleansing and to uphold the brutal system of apartheid. There is absolutely no denying this. While there is no absence of talk and spin from the Minister and his Government supporters, there is a complete absence of action. Indeed, the Government is actively blocking measures brought before the Dáil that would put pressure on the apartheid State of Israel, such as enacting the occupied territories Bill and the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill. Only last week it voted to support the continued sale of Israel bonds by the Irish Central Bank. It is only when Israeli pockets are hit that we see any change because all the words of condemnation clearly do not matter a damn.

Let us be frank and straight about this. The overwhelming majority of people here in Ireland want to see a stand taken against Israel and its war crimes in Palestine. However, the Irish Government and the EU have taken a decision to provide quiet and subtle support to Israel. This is clear from the Government's actions here in the Dáil. Outside the offices of TDs in Carlow and Kilkenny there are protests calling the Government out on voting for bonds over babies. All TDs should have a free vote. If not, they will have to live with the screams they ignore and it will haunt them every day.

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