Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)

First, I thank the Social Democrats for using its time to allow this joint motion to be debated. There is a lot of obfuscation from the Government and an attempt to mislead people in the counter motion and in the Minister’s speech.

It is true that the Central Bank does not sell, endorse or oversee these bonds, but the key point is that it is facilitating the sale of Israeli bonds across the European Union that pay for the genocide in Gaza. There is no question that Israel is carrying out a genocide; the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have said it on the Dáil record. However, they seem to think they will say it and get some credit for saying it, and that it will not have any consequences. It must have legal and moral consequences. We have to do everything in our power to stop a genocide taking place, which means no more hiding behind the technicalities of the EU prospectus regulation, which, by the way, is supposed to be interpreted and applied in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Is the Minister’s argument seriously that a regulation on financial prospectuses should override the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide? He is offended when it is said he is complicit, but what else can it possibly be?

Just yesterday, the Tánaiste stated:

Anything that can be done to make sure the eyes of the world are fixed on Gaza, at a time when the international community is failing to do enough for Gaza and for the children of Gaza, is a good and appropriate thing. It shouldn't require flotillas, it shouldn't require civilians getting on boats and trying to highlight this, it should require the international community growing a backbone here and saying stop. Stop the genocide.

The Government should take its own advice, grow a backbone, do everything it can to stop the genocide and stop the Central Bank facilitating the sale of these bonds. However, I have no confidence in the so-called international community of western governments that are complicit in, fund and support the genocide. I have confidence in the international community of ordinary people, such as those on the streets, trade unions, mothers, the people on the boats and the people on the march to Gaza, which I am proud to be participating in.

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