Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)

I have to be aware of the limits of Irish influence and Irish powers. We are not a strong military power. I cannot direct marines or members of the Irish Rangers to rescue people on that ship. We are not in that type of business. When it comes to what action are we going to take, the Deputy knows as well as I do that the only action we can take is through the power of our influence, by condemning this behaviour and by trying to bring to the attention of the international community the totally unacceptable behaviour of the Israeli Government. We have been quite effective in doing that. However, that is all we can do. We are not a military power. We do not get involved in military engagements with other countries.

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