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

We touched on the proposal yesterday. We all want to see peace. Arab countries may have been part of the process but the Palestinians themselves were not.

The Tánaiste made a point in relation to the genocide. This is a fundamental point. In lots of respects, the flotilla is a symptom. Ultimately, the disease needs to be cured. As long as there is a genocide that continues in Gaza, there will be people who will do what they can to break the blockade and to stand up where institutions and the international order are failing. That will continue to be the case. Israel has in this instance and many other instances acted with impunity because there are no consequences. While the Tánaiste has said the first priority is in relation to Irish citizens, at a political level Ireland needs to be leading and making it clear that consequences have to follow for breaches of international law. The Tánaiste is meeting with Maroš Šefčovič later this evening. A key tool in ensuring that Israel does bear some responsibility is the EU-Israel trade agreement. Will the Tánaiste be raising directly with Maroš Šefčovič the need to block and halt the EU trade agreement? It is astonishing that Israel is currently benefiting from favourable trade agreements with the EU. It is disgusting; and it needs to be halted.

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