Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)

Can I make a point of order? My party leader has written to the Ceann Comhairle and the leaders of the Government parties. We tried to introduce an urgent motion to condemn the attack on the flotilla. As the Minister knows, there are 20 Irish citizens on board the flotilla trying to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza. They are in international waters. It includes one of our colleagues, Senator Chris Andrews, whose boat has been fired upon on four occasions by Israeli drones. This is so urgent that the Italian and Spanish navies have deployed part of their fleets to support and defend Irish citizens.

We in this House have been refused and blocked from bringing a motion of condemnation before the House today. This cannot be business as usual. I ask the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to allow for the urgency of this issue. I cannot see any issue that could be more urgent. By the time we reconvene next week, God knows what could have happened to those boats. I know there is support. I heard the comments yesterday from the Minister, and they were welcome, but there should be a motion here today. We should be allowed to deal with this issue and pass a resolution. I am asking that this be facilitated today.

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