Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)

One of the most frustrating aspects of this is that the Irish people have shown leadership where the Government has failed. No other country has seen the level of protests, mobilisation and community action there has been in every one of our cities, towns and villages. We have seen Irish people take action on a daily basis in support of and in solidarity with Palestine. The Irish people gave the Government a mandate no other government in the world has been given, which was to take the strongest possible action to sanction Israel. The Government has squandered that mandate and refused to listen to the Irish people on our unique position as a former colonised country and one that has gone through famine.

The Irish people feel the pain of Gaza in a way unlike any other country because of what we have gone through in our history. That has given the Government a unique political mandate to stand out from all other countries and say we will take action against Israel because the people of Ireland understand occupation, famine and mass genocide and we cannot stand by and let this happen in our name. It is absolutely pathetic that Government members stand up in the Dáil and say the Opposition never congratulates them on doing more than any other country. They speak words but where is the action? The Government could be sanctioning Israel and implementing the occupied territories Bill.

It should use the mandate the people have given it. It knows that the Occupied Territories Bill has overwhelming support in this country and it should implement it in full anois, now. Saoirse don Phalaistín.

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