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

While I would not necessarily advocate that the Government would do something provocative for the sake of it, ultimately the flotilla is a consequence of what is happening internationally. There has to be a firm response from the Irish Government and from the international community.

As a follow-up to the previous question, we rightly recognised the State of Palestine. I welcome that other countries have done so too. That has to mean something in practical terms. Does the Tánaiste accept that even if these ships were not in international waters – if they were in Palestinian waters – that Palestinian waters are sovereign?

See this speech in context