Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Of course I will. As the Deputy knows well, Maroš Šefčovič agrees with that. That is why at the College of Commissioners, President von der Leyen put forward proposals and proposals were adopted. I am not in any way getting involved in politics today on this, but the problem is no longer that the European Commission is not bringing forward proposals; it is that member states are failing to vote in favour of implementing those proposals. We now have significant proposals that would do exactly what the Deputy suggests around trade. I believe they could make a significant difference. I believe they could make a greater difference than any sovereign act any one of our parliaments in the European Union could take. What needs to happen is that member states, including Ireland, need to have an opportunity to vote on them. I have petitioned this. I am available today to vote on these proposals. There is an absolute onus on the European Council and the institutions of Europe to convene and allow member states to show where they stand and let history show where they stood in relation to these measures that could have a significant economic impact and help Netanyahu to change his calculus in relation to the genocide.

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