Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)

We will keep pressing on the occupied territories Bill, but there is more here in Ireland that the Taoiseach's Government could be doing to show solidarity with the people of Palestine and, in particular, the children of Palestine.

First, I have been working for some months now seeking urgent action from the Government to bring desperately sick children out of Gaza on a medical evacuation with their families. We need to do more on that, and again I appeal to the Taoiseach and the justice and health Ministers on that.

Further, in recent days, like so many others across the country, I have been really concerned to see the refusal of visas to the group of children and their mentors due to travel here from the West Bank with the GAA Palestine group.

Is there anything that can be done at this stage to facilitate this group coming here? We have all listened to the families here who are really distressed that this trip is apparently not going to proceed because of actions or decisions by our own Department of foreign affairs. Can we at this point ensure that this visit goes ahead?

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