Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)

I would nonetheless make the point that the rhetoric employed by her and her office at that early juncture gave political cover to the Israeli Government and the US to undermine the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine, UNRWA, and put in place their own position.

I welcome the fact we will be attending the emergency meeting because it is important to work with other countries. I will ask the Tánaiste to respond to two final points. I know the granting of visas is strictly a competency of the Department of justice but they are processed through the Department of foreign affairs. It is disappointing that the visas for the representatives of the Lajee Cultural Center and GAA Palestine have not been processed. Some of this is about political will and involves contacting the organisation, working through whatever issues exist and ensuring they are worked through quickly. That must happen in the context of the appeal because these are vitally important initiatives. I urge the Tánaiste to work through that with the Department of justice.

I ask the Tánaiste to respond to the extraordinary announcement last night by the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in respect of sanctions on the UN special rapporteur, Francesca Albanese. That kind of direct attack on a UN special rapporteur is appalling.

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