Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I am sorry but I forgot to answer the Deputy's specific question about injuries. We have no reports of any injuries to Irish citizens. I am very conscious of the volatile and dangerous environment. We have no information on any injuries. Our head of consular services has been in regular contact with the point of co-ordination for the flotilla – someone familiar to both of us. We have also made a decision to put in place a dedicated contact point for families. That contact point is now in place. I believe the contact is under way for families.

We do not yet have confirmation on the exact time at which we expect to get access to our citizens. We are working on this constantly. Our citizens need to be brought ashore and when they are, I assure the Deputy that the Irish ambassador to Israel has made it very clear that she will expect very urgent access to them. I am keeping a very direct interest in that myself.

See this speech in context