Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

I wish to focus on one aspect of this motion I support, namely, the reference “to honour Ireland's obligations under the Genocide Convention and to fulfill the duty of the State to use all means likely to have a deterrent effect on those suspected of preparing genocide or reasonably suspected of harbouring specific intent, and work to prevent the genocide.” We have had a two-faced approach. I will acknowledge, as I said to the Tánaiste before in discussions, that Ireland has played a role in holding Israel to account. We supported the South African case in the ICJ, for example, and the Israeli state withdrew its ambassador, accusing Ireland of being an antisemitic country, all because we signalled our intent. However, when it comes to the crunch, what have we done? We have not facilitated the arms embargo Bill. We keep trying to dilute and water down the occupied territories Bill. Hopefully, it is coming in the autumn, but we seem to be dragging it out, saying it is not technically possible or that this or that is not legal. The same thing applies to this legislation. We had a debate on it last week, when I spoke for 11 minutes. The Minister is saying it is not possible to do what we should be doing in respect of the Central Bank because of EU legislation. Why do we not - I ask this question again - bring it as far as we legally can and leave it up to the EU to then follow suit? We should be doing everything in our power to send out the message about the genocide taking place in Gaza and the atrocities in the West Bank. Let us bring it to the nth degree, as far as we can, without any excuses. I cannot see a reason for excuses here. If the European Union says it is not legitimate or does not wash, that is up to the European Union, but let us do as much as we can as a country.

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