Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I welcome the O'Regan family from Dublin via Cork and thank them all for coming to the Gallery. It is good to see them.

We are speaking about the Middle East which is obviously a complex issue, as outlined by Deputy McGrath. The Government has done a huge amount of work internationally, from a diplomatic perspective, and has put a huge effort into discussing and raising the issue in a way that has not happened elsewhere in the western world. We have shown leadership as a Government. Indeed, our leaders have shown leadership the rest of Europe. In fairness, a lot of Europe is now following. Other countries, such as the UK, may be slower, but they are beginning to view things as we have done.

As Deputy McGrath outlined, the issues have been raised with us. We receive emails and see social media posts. It is often pitched that we are on the other side of this fight, for want of a better term. There is a view that we may not stand as aligned as we should, but I would argue that the people of Palestine know exactly where Ireland stands. The leaders of Palestine know exactly where we stand. The leaders in the Middle East know exactly where we stand. We stand against what is happening in Gaza and what is happening to all of the people there, especially the children, and how they are being killed and their lives destroyed. Not only is destruction happening now, what is happening will sow the seeds of destruction for future generations. That is what we in Ireland have highlighted.

Constituents in Kildare North have reached out to me over the past couple of years, especially since I have been elected to the Dáil. I have received emails from people who are horrified and distressed. Their views mirror my own and those of the people beside me. People might ask why I would speak as a TD about the Middle East and ask who cares what a TD in Ireland says about the Middle East. The only reason we discuss it is that we have to discuss it and highlight what we see on our TV screens and what is going on. If we do not, the world will be silent about what is going on.

Although we are not the strongest militarily or economically, what we do have is a history of standing proudly neutral and fair behind what is right. We know that what is happening in Israel and Gaza is not right, and this is what we are calling out.

The Irish Government has always been clear on its support for Gaza. As Deputy Séamus McGrath outlined, we have committed significant funding in our own way to the people of Gaza, as highlighted by the €58 million to UNRWA, among other moneys. We have repeatedly called for a ceasefire with the immediate release of hostages. We recognised the State of Palestine when other countries did not do so. We have shown the way across Europe, along with Spain and Norway, in this specific regard.

The Government will continue to make the case throughout Europe and at the UN. Let no one in this House be in any doubt about where the Irish Government stands. The country of Israel is in no doubt about where this country stands. Sometimes when I am taking part in debates on RTÉ or Newstalk, the Opposition, which is not here at present, would like to label us as not being as pro-Gaza or Palestine as we should be. This goes against the view of everyone else. The Opposition is completely wrong in how it is portraying the Government. We want not only to make the case now but we have made it previously and we will continue to do so.

This debate is about the Middle East and we have seen what has happened in recent weeks with Iran and Israel. We had issues back and forth between the two countries. I hope that now they have come to a resolution and the guns have been silenced. Ultimately, an escalation of any conflict does no good to anyone. It just sows the seeds of future distrust which will continue for future generations.

Ireland remains fully committed in all of this. We remain fully committed to promoting peace throughout the world, and especially in the Middle East where we feel we have a role. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Harris, has been at the forefront of leading this, as has the Taoiseach. The Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, is here representing the Government in this debate and all Ministers have been to the forefront in representing it. Deputy Séamus McGrath and I may be backbench TDs but we also speak for the Government. The Government speaks with one voice and it is important that the Opposition and the people of Ireland know with what voice we speak. We speak on behalf of fairness. We speak on behalf of peace. We speak on behalf of all of the people who are struggling in Gaza and other areas of the Middle East and throughout the world. We speak for them because we speak for freedom.

This House came out of war and we have prospered in the freedom we have found since. As a country we have had our difficulties. Many of our families were involved in the War of Independence. We do not have to go back too far for all of those stories, or for the battles that raged around Europe. We have seen peace and now we want the same freedom, peace and future for the people of Gaza. This is why I am making this statement. I am with the Government and what it is doing. I call again on Israel to have a ceasefire as soon as possible so we can start to rebuild Gaza with what is required for the future peace and prosperity of the people of the area so they too can live as we do.

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