Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)

I thank the Tánaiste. I welcome that support for the International Criminal Court. It is important. The international order is under attack, without a doubt. The Tánaiste's reply has caused me more concern due to the feedback he got last week. It is important Ireland and other countries continue to support the International Criminal Court and not allow the United Nations to be undermined, and indeed for the whole organisation to be reformed and improved. The Government has stood out. We need to continue doing that. I ask it to go further, of course. There is going to have to be negotiations and the release of hostages, both Palestinian prisoner hostages and Israeli hostages.

The sooner that happens, and we move to negotiations for a two-state solution, the better.

Will the Tánaiste continue to try to build what I would call a coalition of the willing? Ireland has managed to get some other European countries on board. I ask that he continue that work and, hopefully, other countries in Europe will come on board. We must keep applying as much pressure as possible on Israel to stop the slaughter and the horror show that are Gaza and the West Bank.

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