Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)

I send my sympathies to all affected by the crash in India. It is absolutely horrific.

Thousands of people are taking part in a march to Gaza today. They are trying to break the criminal blockade which is allowing thousands of people to starve, be killed and so on. It is something the Tánaiste commended when he spoke of doing anything that can be done to keep the eyes of the world on this when world leaders are clearly not doing enough. People who are going include health workers from this country, ordinary people who cannot watch any longer as this happens. I have been told the situation is very tense in Egypt, where they are gathering, and that 190 people have been detained, including three Irish people. They are apparently being deported. I ask, number one, for all TDs, particularly the Tánaiste as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, to make contact with the Egyptian authorities and ask that these people be allowed safe passage. They are not doing anything wrong. I also ask that officials go to the airport to assist people there, where there seems to be particularly difficult situations. The Egyptian authorities, and those of the surrounding countries, do not have the right to stop people.

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