John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome and echo the Tánaiste's remarks. The small Jewish community in my constituency of Dublin South-West feels particularly vulnerable at times of protest.

Outside our relationship with the UK and the European Union, we have a unique relationship with the United States. This issue provides an opportunity, not to review it but to move forward with a different kind of dynamic. Some people on the left are the first to protest when members of the Houses of Congress who may hold strong views with which we disagree visit this House. These visits are opportunities to engage and to outline the rationale behind Ireland's stance on particular issues, as opposed to having a blanket protest against their presence in the House. In that engagement with people who hold particular views, it is important that we express to the Americans that it is not the Irish Government that has been accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and weaponising of hunger. Those views must be made known as strongly as possible to our American counterparts.

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