Natasha Newsome Drennan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)

I have looked over the reporting on the recent European Council meeting. While the situation in Gaza was touched upon, it is striking how lightly it was addressed. The Council reiterated its opposition to settlement expansion and Israel's military operations, but where is the action? Why does the European Union continue with business as usual, trading with a state that operates a system of apartheid?

Let us be clear; Israel is not a normal state. It is an apartheid state. Since 10 October, it has violated the ceasefire 393 times, killing almost 300 people and wounding over 600. Let us just consider the past 24 hours, which have seen more air strikes across Gaza and on Palestinian refugee camps, killing 13 people. In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot a child and a journalist. The scale of the slaughter may have reduced but it has certainly not stopped. Until it stops and until Israel abandons its policies of apartheid, the EU must not continue with business as usual. Moral condemnation is empty without concrete consequences.

The Council addressed the green transition. It clearly references the extreme threat posed by climate change and how that underpins the EU's commitments to the Paris agreement. Therefore, I was astounded to find absolutely no mention of the EU-Mercosur trade deal, an agreement that, as we all acknowledged in this Chamber last night, would devastate Irish and European agriculture and cause untold damage to the environment. This is a deal that has been causing widespread deforestation with the sole purpose of clearing the land to produce more beef for the likes of the UK market. The research has clearly shown that our beef is produced with a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to beef produced in the Mercosur states. It is a deal that puts customers at risk by allowing beef, chicken and pork produced using banned substances like GMOs and growth hormones onto our shelves. These are products that we in the EU have rightly classified as a health risk.

Given the profound implications, it is beyond me how such a major agreement was not discussed at the Council. The Minister of State and his colleagues agreed to our motion last night. We cannot afford passive opposition. We need to see the Government proactively reaching out, building a coalition with like-minded states across Europe and putting the brakes on the Mercosur deal before it is too late. The time for rhetoric is over. Our farmers, consumers and planet demand decisive action.

The time dedicated to discussing the ramping up of defence readiness was something else. We should be under no illusion. More weapons and bombs will not bring peace and security. If they did, the United States and Israel, with their vast arsenals, would be the most peaceful and safe nations in the world. If the EU truly wants global security and lasting peace, it must invest in the well-being of our people.

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