Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)

I welcome the ceasefire. Any relief for the Palestinian people facing genocide is obviously welcome. I emphasise that a lasting peace will only be built on the basis of justice and there is still definitely no justice for the Palestinian people. My question relates to Government policy in this context.

I am concerned that the various commitments that have been given in the context of pressure of a massive solidarity movement and massive public support for the Palestinian people will now be forgotten or kicked down the road never to happen. First, in relation to the occupied territories Bill, will the Taoiseach give a commitment that it will be passed and implemented before Christmas and will it include trade in goods and services, as the Fine Gael candidate for President has now apparently said she is in favour of?

Second, in relation to the investigation about the overflights, there is an examination ongoing for more than a year of something that is very simple. Is this just going to simply continue and disappear or are we ever going to get to the bottom of that and action to stop it?

Third, I have heard the Taoiseach previously say that no airplanes with military cargo, weapons or soldiers are landing in Shannon Airport on the way to Israel. The Ditch has a story saying that on Sunday Simon Harris authorised a US military plane to refuel at Shannon Airport on its way from a US Department of War air base to the Nevatim Israel Defense Forces base. It was transporting soldiers or military cargo and it stopped over at Shannon Airport. That seems to me to be completely wrong. Was the Taoiseach aware of this? Does the Taoiseach agree with granting authorisation for our airport to be used in that way?

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